JOHOR BARU: A mother suffering from blindness and a recent stroke is struggling to make ends meet after living comfortably for the past nine years.
"Nearly nine years after my separation from my ex-husband, I had a blessed life with good health and finances to care for my two children. However, everything changed after I suffered a stroke last February," said 31-year-old single mother Nor Zainizah Zainal.
Nor Zainizah, a former hospitality supervisor at a hotel, said the stroke also caused her to lose vision in her left eye.
Over time, her right eye has also become blurry due to worsening nerve damage, putting her at risk of complete blindness unless she undergoes brain surgery.
"Previously, I underwent laser treatment for my left eye, but the nerve failed to recover," she said.
"I have a specialist appointment at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) on Nov 18, where doctors will explain the surgery and its risks in detail. My emotions are mixed as I worry about my children's future and the outcome of the procedure," she said during an interview at Jalan Belian, Kampung Melayu Majidee, today.
Earlier, the family received essential items donated by Econsave Cash and Carry General Manager Mas Imran Adam.
Since losing her job, which paid RM2,000 monthly, Nor Zainizah and her children have faced food shortages and relied on help from friends and former colleagues.
"My eldest son, Mohamad 'Afi Fayyadh, 13, a student at SMK Tun Syed Nasir, and my youngest, Nurul Fathiah, 12, a pupil at SK Majidi, no longer receive pocket money for school.
"We eat whatever we can find, and our savings are completely depleted. Financially, we are struggling, especially with a monthly house rent of RM500.
"Recently, our landlord asked us to move out. I am overwhelmed as I have nowhere else to go, being an orphan and an only child," she said.
She also lamented the lack of monthly financial assistance from any agencies, relying instead on one-off aid.
Nor Zainizah, a registered person with disabilities (OKU), said her application for a disability pension from the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) was also rejected.
"Only I know the extent of my suffering. Besides vision problems, I often feel weak, making it difficult to get out of bed or perform household chores.
"I am at a loss about my children's future. Will we always have to rely on help from others, especially for their education?" she said.