![Juliza’s youngest child suffered from macrocephaly, hydrocephalus, and severe hearing loss in one ear. He also could not focus his eyes and needed constant oxygen supply, and ankle support to prevent deformities as he grew older, as well as nasal feeding to avoid choking. [Photo by Teng Pick Cheang]](/images/Articles/CS/2023/JY_KL20220917_dyx01_034.jpg "Juliza’s youngest child suffered from macrocephaly, hydrocephalus, and severe hearing loss in one ear. He also could not focus his eyes and needed constant oxygen supply, and ankle support to prevent deformities as he grew older, as well as nasal feeding to avoid choking. [Photo by Teng Pick Cheang]")
She had to navigate the crowded bus, pushing the stroller with essential supplies and an oxygen cylinder while comforting her crying child, who felt uncomfortable due to the stuffiness and forcefully tilted his head backward, leaving her arm bruised and in pain. Only she knew the true extent of the hardship she endured in her efforts to save on transportation costs.
In 2023, for the first time, Tzu Chi extended a heartwarming invitation to its Muslim care recipients, inviting them to the KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall for an Eid al-Fitr celebration. Among the guests was Juliza binti Salim from Sabah.
Juliza and her late husband were blessed with three daughters, aged 10, 12, and 13 this year, respectively. Life was happy for the family up till 2017, when Juliza’s husband passed away from heart disease at the young age of 30. Not long after his demise, Juliza gave birth to their baby, who tragically succumbed to macrocephaly just three days after birth.
Later, Juliza found a new partner, and they had a baby. During a prenatal examination in her seventh month of pregnancy, it was confirmed that this baby was also afflicted with the same condition as her deceased child. Concerned about the high medical expenses, Juliza’s fiancé made the choice to abandon them.
The baby born with macrocephaly faced multiple challenges, including hydrocephalus, the need for constant oxygen supply, unfocused eyes, severe hearing loss in the left ear, and the requirements for ankle support to prevent deformities as he grew older and to be fed through a tube to prevent choking. Previously, a tin of milk formula could last for five days, but now, it only lasts for three days, forcing Juliza to reduce the formula’s amount during financially challenging times.
Additionally, the child’s delicate health rendered him vulnerable to infections, resulting in hospital admissions once or twice almost every month, which left Juliza exhausted. This July, a gastrotomy surgery has been scheduled for him, and Juliza eagerly anticipates the relief it will bring, alleviating the discomfort caused by nasal feeding.
The most daunting aspect for Juliza is coping with her child’s unpredictable muscle spasms and epileptic seizures. She remains ever vigilant, constantly staying by his side, to ensure timely assistance and to avoid the risk of losing him. Despite the trials of having a sick child, Juliza’s family maintains a positive outlook and gratefully accepts the blessings bestowed upon them by Allah.
Amidst the pandemic, Juliza was pregnant with her youngest son and had to halt her cleaning job, relying on meagre social assistance to make ends meet. Thankfully, a friend who understood her circumstances offered her a job at a logistics company, with the flexibility to go home to attend to her child’s needs whenever necessary.
Bringing her child to hospital appointments proved to be a significant challenge for Juliza. She had to navigate the crowded bus, pushing the stroller with essential supplies and an oxygen cylinder while comforting her crying child, who felt uncomfortable due to the stuffiness and forcefully tilted his head backward, leaving her arm bruised and in pain. Only she knew the true extent of the hardship she endured in her efforts to save on transportation costs.
In January 2023, Juliza opted to work on a part-time basis, and by March, she bravely made the decision to leave her job entirely, dedicating herself wholeheartedly to the care of her child.
◎ Tzu Chi’s support, both physically and emotionally
In 2020, Tzu Chi initiated the “Kita1Keluarga (K1K)” relief programme. Juliza visited the Tzu Chi recycling centre in Jinjang to collect supplies, and at the same time, she reached out to Tzu Chi careline and sent a message to volunteer Tan Wei Han. Being a parent of a child facing a similar health condition, Wei Han deeply empathised with Juliza upon seeing the pictures of her child. He contemplated how he could provide even more help to ensure the family received the assistance they needed.
Upon learning that Juliza’s daughters had to share a single mobile phone for their online classes, causing them to miss lessons frequently, Tzu Chi volunteers swiftly applied for two additional mobile phones equipped with Internet data for them. Juliza herself had missed the opportunity to attend school as a child, as she had to support her family by collecting and selling recyclables from a young age. As such, she has placed great importance on her children’s formal education.
Thanks to the financial assistance from Tzu Chi, Juliza can now afford a small luxury—taking a cab instead of the bus for her child’s follow-up appointments. Witnessing her son sleeping peacefully during the rides alleviates her feelings of guilt towards him.
◎ A unique celebration
At Wei Han’s invitation, Juliza attended the Eid al-Fitr celebration at the Jing Si Hall and found it to be a completely different experience from her hometown’s celebration two weeks prior. The warm and family-like atmosphere, along with the festive mood of Eid al-Fitr, embraced her, and most notably, her child slept peacefully throughout the event in the stroller.
Her late husband’s brother, who drove them to the event, was appreciative of Tzu Chi’s care towards Juliza’s family, especially concerning the children’s education. As they strolled around, examining posters and watching video clips about Tzu Chi’s missions worldwide, they took a keen interest in the organisation.
While exploring the Jing Si exhibition hall, Juliza asked the volunteers on where she could donate the money she had collected in her bamboo bank. With delight, she watched the coins sliding down from her bamboo bank into the large urn, feeling a sense of fulfilment as she could now reciprocate Tzu Chi’s kindness.
Juliza expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the assistance provided by Tzu Chi since the pandemic began, and for the teachers who offered her children free online tuition. Witnessing significant improvements in their academic progress brought her relief. Even her youngest daughter, Nurul Hajah, surprised her English language teacher, earning praise for her skills. This boost in confidence empowered Nurul Hajah to confidently participate in question-and-answer sessions in class.
For Juliza, the biggest gain from the visit to the Jing Si Hall was the opportunity to learn about Tzu Chi’s origins, the inspiring story of the bamboo banks and its replication in the form of rice banks among Myanmar’s farmers, and to witness how the volunteers treated the care recipients like their family members. Juliza remarked, “Your warm and respectful hospitality has brought us immense happiness. The red envelope sent to us before Eid al-Fitr truly eased our burden. We even had a lovely family portrait taken, and the volunteer is truly a skilled photographer!”
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After savouring a delicious vegetarian lunch, they proceeded to the pre-loved item section to browse through and select the clothing they needed. The children were overjoyed to discover a pre-loved doll, and their happiness reached new heights when they received two Bobo balloons. It was truly a one-of-a-kind celebration for the family, creating beautiful memories to cherish.
