KUALA TERENGGANU: Two days before his convocation in early December, a 23-year-old graduate learned that his mother had suffered a stroke, paralysing the left side of her body.
As a result, Wan Abdul Aziz had to attend the convocation ceremony and receive his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and the Vice-Chancellor's Award on stage without the presence of his beloved mother.
Due to his mother's ongoing health condition, he also postponed his plans to pursue work opportunities in the city, despite having received a job offer from a company.
His story gained attention online after he shared a short TikTok video showing his daily routine caring for his mother in the hospital, despite having academic qualifications.
The Poly-Tech Malaysia University graduate shared that he was supposed to start working at an audit firm in Kuala Lumpur this month.
"If it were up to me, I could go because I have other siblings who can help care for my mother here. But as her son, I feel uneasy leaving her in this condition, even though she has been discharged after spending nearly two weeks in the hospital. Hence, I will focus on taking care of my mother and see how things go. If there is still an opportunity, I will pursue my intention to work in Kuala Lumpur later," he said when contacted by Harian Metro.
Wan Abdul Aziz, who is the sixth of seven siblings, also expressed his sadness when reflecting on the convocation ceremony, which his mother could not attend.
"She was the most excited and eager to see me walk across the stage, but it was not meant to be as she fell ill. It was a mix of sadness and heartbreak for me, but I accept His will. I am grateful this challenge came after I had completed my studies because it would have been overwhelming if it had happened during my industrial training in Kuala Lumpur. At least I had no other commitments and could take turns with my brother to care for her at the hospital," he said.
Wan Abdul Aziz added that his efforts to care for his mother were nothing compared to the sacrifices she made to raise him and his siblings after the passing of their father, Wan Seman Wan Kadir, 20 years ago.
"Dad passed away due to a lung condition, and after he was gone, Mum worked tirelessly to support us. She worked as a cleaner at a clinic, and from her earnings, we were all able to attend school and further our studies. As her son, I hope she recovers quickly because the doctor said there's a chance for her to improve. For now, we are monitoring her condition closely since there is an infection in her blood," he said.
Wan Abdul Aziz also extended his gratitude to everyone who prayed for his mother's recovery after he shared the video on TikTok.
"I only shared the video for fun as part of a trend and did not expect it to gain so many views. I am thankful that the video became a reason for so many people to pray for my mum, even though I'm just an ordinary person and no one knows me," he said.