JOHOR BARU: "If I could trade my life for hers, I would. Baby was a good child, always helping with her younger siblings," said Nurfarah Abu Othman.
Nurfarah, 36, is the mother of Nurul Umaierah Sujak, 14, who drowned while swimming and fishing with her family in a stream near Taman Pulai Perdana yesterday.
She said that her fourth child of seven, affectionately called 'Baby', was cheerful and always willing to help.
Having had a miscarriage just two weeks ago, she did not expect July 18 to be her daughter's last birthday celebration before losing her forever yesterday.
"Baby was pampered, which is why we still called her Baby. Every morning, she would help her younger siblings get ready for school, hanging their uniforms for them to wear.
"In the evenings, she would give tutorial to her siblings, especially during exam periods. Each child is different, but Baby was always diligent and kind.
"I never thought I would lose her, especially since just the day before, we celebrated her birthday. Baby loved surprises. When I wished her happy birthday, she kissed me, and I told her, 'Mommy wishes all the best for you, Baby'," she said when met at the Forensic Medicine Department of Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) today.
Nurfarah said yesterday's picnic and fishing trip was at Nurul Umaierah's request to her stepfather for her birthday.
She said all seven of her children love fishing and swimming in the river.
"Yesterday's picnic was her wish. It was her time to go, on a blessed Friday. My family and I accept it.
"Two days before her passing, she was very close to her seven-year-old sibling, who was ill, and she kept reciting prayers into her sibling's ear," she said.
Yesterday, the 14-year-old girl was reported to have drowned while her four siblings were saved by their father during a swimming and fishing activity in a stream near Taman Pulai Perdana.
Meanwhile, her uncle, Mohd Nurhanizam Abu Othman, 33, said losing Nurul Umaierah felt like she was following in the footsteps of her late grandmother, who passed away three weeks ago.
He said that when her grandmother passed away in Melaka, Nurul Umaierah could not return home as she was sitting for exams.
"Her sibling shared that on her birthday, she said today is her birthday and also the day she will die. Her sibling told her not to say such things as it is not good.
"She was close to my mother, her grandmother on her mother's side, in Melaka. Among her siblings, she was the most pampered and cheerful.
"I believe she has reunited with her grandmother and father," he said.
Nurul Umaierah was buried at Batu 26 Islamic Cemetery, Pekan Nanas, near Pontian, close to her biological father's grave.