 |
| Doing her best: Fauziah with her six disabled children at their home at the Kampung Kolam flats Wednesday |
KUALA TERENGGANU: Motherhood is hard for 52-year-old Fauziah Ngah.
Not only is she a widow after her husband died about three years ago, she has to single-handedly take care of six disabled children.
However, Fauziah is determined to fend for her brood at their small house at the Kampung Kolam flats here.
“I have to take charge of the family while taking care of them. I have to cater to their peculiar behaviour but I never complain because they are all my babies,” she said in an interview here yesterday.
The children, who suffer from a genetic brain deficiency disease, are Yaziz Aziz, 27, Sofia, 26, Mohd Syukri Hadafi, 25, Suriyani, 24, Mohd Rizal, 17, and nine-year-old Mohd Amir Haikal.
Fauziah said it has been really hard for her since her children, especially the five older ones, still act like toddlers despite their age.
“They often fight with each other and damage things in the house. My youngest Mohd Amir needs to be monitored 24 hours a day as he has a tendency to run away, given his hyperactive nature,” said Fauziah, whose has two older sons who are normal.
Besides their odd behaviour, the mother also has to contend with constant trips to the hospital for their regular check-ups.
Fauziah, who received RM200 in aid each month from the Welfare Department, said she has been using her late husband Aziz Jalil's pension to cover most of the expenses, including for food and diapers.
“My two oldest sons are fortunate not to suffer from the disease. Thankfully, they also give me some assistance,” she said, adding that two of her mentally disabled children also receive RM150 each from the department.
However, Fauziah said she has to plan the family budget carefully.
“No matter what happens, I will always take care of them to the best of my ability,” she said.
