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Devoted wife cares for husband after memory loss following brain stroke

SIK: A 43-year-old woman had to quit her job when her husband, who had a stroke in September, suffered severe memory loss, leaving the family without a stable income.

Nur Adila Wa Chek has been caring for her husband, Mohd Shah Mat, 44, at the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani for almost a month before he was allowed to return home on Oct 3.

"Since returning, my husband's memory loss has prevented me from seeking a new job to support our family. He used to sell burgers with a net income of around RM800 a month, and I had just started working as a contract agricultural census worker in July. But I had to leave that job to care for him at the hospital.

"My husband doesn't recognise anyone since the stroke. After being moved from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), he didn't even recognise me; I had to keep telling him I was his wife.

"He cannot even ask for food or drink; if I don't feed him, he won't eat. I have to manage everything," she said when met at their home in Kampung Banggol Selayang, built by the Kedah Zakat Board (LZNK).

A mother of four and a diabetic patient, Nur Adila said her family now relies on the RM500 monthly cash assistance from the Welfare Service Department to make ends meet.

"That amount isn't enough, as two of our children are still in school, and our eldest, aged 19, is searching for work.

"Although my husband can walk again, his memory is not what it used to be. He doesn't recognise anyone except me and the children, and I have to explain who each family member is whenever they visit.

"I cannot give him too much information at once because it causes him pain. He spends a lot of time staring off in thought, and there are times when I feel the stress too, managing the children's schooling and looking after our youngest, aged three, who has a speech delay."

Nur Adila has also sought aid from friends, family, and non-government organisations (NGOs), though this support is still insufficient for their needs.

She said she often has to rent a car to take her husband to hospital as she only has a motorcycle for daily activities.

"My husband's stroke was due to an unstable heart condition. Now, he needs heart medication and blood-thinning injections in his stomach. He had a minor stroke affecting the left side of his brain in 2021, which took months to recover from. This time it is worse, impacting both sides of his brain.

"He was also involved in an accident in 2013, resulting in metal rods being placed in both legs, which limits his ability to do heavy work. Perhaps the impact from that motorcycle fall has had long-term effects on him," she added.

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