Kelantan couple struggle to afford sick son's special milk, resort to rice water
PASIR MAS: A couple in Kampung Kenjing, Repek, have seen their lives change drastically after their only child became bedridden four years ago due to brain damage caused by seizures.
PASIR MAS: A family in Kampung Kenjing, Repek, has faced immense hardship since their teenage son, Muhammad Aiman, was struck down by brain damage at just eight years old. Siti Noor Mastubaidura Ariffin, 36, recounted how she had to close her modest grocery business to care for her son, who now requires round-the-clock attention due to his condition.
Her husband, Rilhafizi Mohamad Zukhri, 44, is the sole earner in the family, earning between RM50 and RM60 per day as a labourer. Siti prioritizes using her husband's income to meet Muhammad Aiman's needs, including specialised milk, disposable diapers, and medical supplies. When their finances run low, Siti must borrow money from her husband's employer and relatives to get by.
Recently, the Social Welfare and Volunteer Club (KELSS) offered financial assistance, disposable diapers, and milk to alleviate their burden. Muhammad Aiman's specialised milk costs RM280 and only lasts six days, forcing the family to stretch it further by diluting it with regular milk or even using rice water as a substitute. The monthly SARA assistance from the Social Welfare Department, while helpful, falls short of covering his needs, especially the costly specialised milk, which can run as high as RM1,200 a month.
The family also rents an oxygen tank for RM7 each month, a necessity given Muhammad Aiman's need for constant oxygen.
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