A Heart That Cares

1. In the column 'SENIOR' devoted to activities of senior citizens in the 'The Star' published on Friday February 13, 2015, Sheela Chandran featured four seniors who played the role of caregivers under the eye-catching tagline 'A Heart That Cares'.  I was one of those featured, the others were 72 year-old retiree, Serijit Kaur; 67 year-old widow, Lam Lye Sim and the fourth person was Madame Shirley David.  According to the article, Madame Serijit's husband, Mr. Harinder Singh was paralysed due to a spinal injury suffered when he fell one morning when he was on his walk and became bed-bound since 2012.  As a caregiver Madame Serijit has displayed patience, understanding and empathic to keep the person under his care, in high spirit and not fall into depression.  She keeps herself healthy with proper diet and regular exercises to enable her to undertake the arduous daily task.  The second caregiver, Madame Lam, on the other hand, has been taking care of her 46 year-old juvenile diabetes daughter since she was 19 i.e for a period of 27 years.  Amazing.  The third caregiver covered was Madame Shirley David, who looks after her 77 year-old diabetic mother who needs to receive her dialysis treatment thrice a week.  She regarded taking care of her mother as an opportunity for her own children to bond with their grandmother and to nurture the appreciation of family ties.

2.  As to my role as a caregiver, the full text of what Sheela wrote in the article is given below, as the photos posted here on the article is not very clear to read.
  '......Fate dealt Datuk Dr Hashim Abdul Wahab, 77, a cruel blow when his wife was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009.  "I was devastated upon hearing the news.  However, I took it in my stride and accepted it as part of life.  I wanted my wife to have the best medical attention," says the formr director-general of the Malaysian Cocoa Board.
       After a successful surgey, Datin Kamariah Mohd Saad underwent radiotherapy for a month.  She followed this up with physiotherapy and acupuncture sessions.  Kamariah was given a clean bill of health in 2012.
       Hashim continued his role as caregiver.  Although they have an Indonesian maid who helps with daily chores, Hashim is always by his wife's side to ensure that she takes her medication and exercises regularly. He also helps her to prepare juices and herbal teas from the orgnic produce in their garden.
    "I schedule my time in such a way that Kamariah is never home alone.  I arrange my business commitments and activities according to her needs," explains Hashim who runs an agricultural consulting firm.
    The grandfather of three is thankful that he is healthy enough to be anchor for his 73-year- old wife.  He is happy to ferry her around for her medical appointments.
    "Taking care of her gives the opportunity to pay back the great things that this terrific lady has done in our more than 50 years together.  She has been a wonderful wife, mother, cook, housekeeper, daughter-in-law, gardener and advisor," says Hashim, who has written six books to date.  Among them are Adventure Journeys in Sabah (2001), In Search of Happiness (2009), and A Senior Citizen's Journeys of Happiness (2014)'.
  A more detailed discussion of the topic also appeared as an article entitled 'Taking Care of a Surviving Cancer Patient' in this blog.          

    Posted on March1, 2015

    Any views or comments on the article can be communicated to;

    hashim.abdulwahab@gmail.com