KUCHING: Hope Place Kuching has extended aid to a young widow in Kampung Parang here who is facing immense challenges after the sudden death of her husband and the responsibility of raising two children with disabilities.
Nur Nadirah Zainuddin, 33, lost her husband last year due to a fatal stroke and brain haemorrhage.
Formerly employed as a cleaner, she was forced to resign after the tragedy to care for her children and seek emotional support by returning to live with her mother.
Nadirah’s eldest son, Huzzain, 11, suffers from severe autism and currently attends special education classes.
Her youngest, Umair, 6, has been diagnosed with speech delay syndrome and can only utter a few simple words, which adds to her concern.
“Huzzain is very difficult to manage, especially with his unstable emotions and frequent tantrums,” Nadirah told Hope Place.
Coping with the emotional and financial burden has taken a toll on Nadirah’s mental health.
Following her husband’s death, she began experiencing depression, worsened by the loss of her twin sister to kidney failure earlier this year.
She is currently undergoing counselling at the Samarahan Polyclinic.
Despite her struggles, Nadirah is determined to push forward for the sake of her children.
Together with her mother, she runs a small roadside food stall in front of their home, selling handmade kuih such as curry puffs and traditional Malay cakes.
Although their recipes have received praise for their authentic flavour, sales remain limited due to the stall’s location.
With renewed hope, Nadirah shared her plan with Hope Place to expand her business by opening a stall at a nearby wet market, where customer traffic is expected to be higher.
Last month, Nadirah also applied for social welfare assistance to ease her family’s financial burdens.
In the meantime, Hope Place (Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching) is supporting her with essential food aid, school supplies, and toys for her children.
Those who wish to support Nadirah or other families in similar situations may contact Hope Place at 082-505987 or 013-5672775.
Donations are welcome.
