Nurse puts career, marriage plans aside to care for father, brother

In Alor Star, N. Sailajah, a 36-year-old former private hospital nurse, has forsaken her nursing career and marriage plans to care for her ailing father and brother. The youngest sibling, Sailajah, is now the primary caregiver for her 80-year-old father, R. Kanusamy, who suffers from heart disease, kidney problems, impaired vision, and the aftermath of a stroke.

Her 53-year-old brother, Thanabalan, has also been confined to a wheelchair since he suffered a stroke in 2020. Kanusamy, a newspaper distributor who had worked in Alor Star since 1978, now requires complete rest after falling at home in February last year and fracturing his right thigh. He had to undergo surgery at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital after the accident.

Sailajah's mother passed away in July. When met at her home in Taman Indah, Titi Gajah, Sailajah shared that her nursing experience and taking over newspaper sales helped her care for both her father and brother. Her brother had previously supported the family but could no longer work or walk after his stroke and now relies on a wheelchair.

Sailajah, who had a boyfriend understanding her situation, stated that she had no regrets about leaving her nursing job and marriage plans, as caring for her family was an obligation she was determined to fulfil.