Diabetic woman facing host of woes, including a paralysed son

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WHILE she struggles to control her diabetes, Besah Husin finds it even harder to deal with the implications presented by the disease.

At 80, she suffers from loss of vision and also a broken hip that cannot be repaired.

Her granddaughter, Norha­shima Abu Khayan, 26, said Besah had fractured her right hip following a fall at home at Kampung Padang Tembak in Teluk Muroh, Lumut.

“The doctor who treated my grandmother refused to perform a surgery on her, fearing that her wound may not heal and eventually become infected due to the diabetes,” Norhashima said.

Lending an ear: Salleh (right) telling Dr Zambry about his misfortune.

Besah’s life, she added, became more miserable when a lorry mowed down her son two months ago.

Though her uncle, Salleh Ibrahim, miraculously escaped death, Norhashima said he had become paralysed on the left side of his body.

“While he is unable to feel anything on one side, he feels extreme pain on his right foot.

“The pain is unbearable even with the slightest movement,” she said of her uncle, who was once a healthy odd-job worker.

Norhashima said the mother and son were being cared for by family members living next door.

“We are struggling to pay for their medicine and adult diapers which cost about RM1,600 a month,” she said during a visit by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir last Sunday.

The financially distressed family received pocket money from the caring Mentri Besar, who later continued on his visit to several other homes in the village.

Led by a group of motorcyclists, Dr Zambry later visited 48-year-old cancer patient Isa Saad.

Sitting on the floor beside Isa, who was lying motionless on a mat, Dr Zambry whispered words of encouragement and consoled the dying man.

A former ferry worker, Isa was diagnosed with end stage nose and laryngeal cancer in March.

His wife, Tazim Ahmad, 45, said Isa needed to undergo treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital three times a month.

“We travel to Kuala Lumpur by bus and I have to support his weight as we move about because he cannot do so on his own,” she said tearfully.

Tazim added that she sold nasi lemak to support their four school-going children.