PADANG TERAP: Despite having lupus, Noor Hamizah Zulkepli, 26, refuses to let her debilitating illness stop her from living life on her own terms.
Struggling through the pain, she continues doing household chores with the aid of a walking stick.
Four years ago, Hamizah's dreams of joining the police were shattered when she was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes the body's immune system to mistakenly attack healthy tissue in various parts of the body.
Before her diagnosis, Hamizah was always around to help her family, especially her mother, Mahtom Mohamad Daud, 59, with household chores. Unfortunately, last April, her mother was diagnosed with colon cancer.
"My mother used to help my father, Zulkepeli Abdullah, 62, by tapping rubber in a nearby plantation," Hamizah shared, reflecting on the days before her mother's illness.
"Since she fell ill, she's been confined to home, and our roles have changed. Despite my condition, I assist her with cooking and folding clothes, even if it means relying on my walking stick."
Mahtom's journey has been equally challenging. Her diagnosis came after experiencing persistent bowel movement issues, including difficulty passing stools and bouts of diarrhoea. An endoscopy at Alor Setar Hospital confirmed her fears: it was stage two colon cancer.
"The diagnosis initially left me devastated," Mahtom said.
"But I knew I had to keep fighting. I surrendered to Allah SWT, and that faith sustains me through the chemotherapy treatments. I've completed six out of the twelve rounds needed."
The frequent hospital visits, which occur at least twice a month, have been a financial burden on the family. They often need to rent a car for these trips, and the costs add up quickly, including chemotherapy and hospital fees.
"Our savings have dwindled, going towards my treatment and Hamizah's follow-up checks," Mahtom said.
The family's financial strain adds another layer of stress to their already challenging situation.
In this time of need, support from the community has been invaluable. Zuraini Kamal, Cancer Survivors Malaysia (CSM) chairman, visited the family to offer assistance and show solidarity with their plight.
Through their struggles, Hamizah and her mother remain steadfast, facing each day with courage and determination.