C
Cao Pi
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Thursday September 16, 2010
Couple shows love for Siti Rafidah against all odds
By STEPHEN THEN
[email protected]
MIRI: An elderly Malay couple here proves that love can surmount all barriers when they adopted a half-Chinese baby, who has cerebral palsy. Drahman Latep, 63, and his wife, Hamdia Bujang, 50, endured the ridicule of some villagers at Kampung Padang Kerbau when they brought home the baby, whose father was Chinese and mother Dayak, five years ago.
“The kampung people said we were foolish to have adopted a child from a different race and who was disabled. But when my wife and I first saw her we immediately felt a special love for her although she was Chinese,” he told The Star.
Special family: Drahman and Hamdia posing with their special daughter, Siti Rafidah at Kampung Padang Kerbau, Miri, Sarawak.
The childless couple had gone all the way to Bintulu, about two hours drive from here, to adopt the child when they heard that her parents wanted to give her away. Drahman and Hamdia named her Siti Rafidah. Siti was about three months old when she started to develop physical problems but that has not dampened the love of her new parents.
Drahman and Hamdia have already used up their life-savings to nurse Siti and they are still forking out at least RM800 a month to buy nutritional milk, diapers and other necessities for their daughter. Drahman worries everyday about how to find money to care for his daughter.
He used to be an express bus-driver but today, he cuts grass for income. “We have exhausted our life savings. We have for the past five years brought Siti to government hospitals and private hospitals to find a cure for her but her condition is still the same. We are already old. If we pass away, who will take care of Siti?” Drahman cried.
On Monday, The Star brought Siti, Drahman and Hamdia to see a specialist for consultation and was informed that intensive therapy could help Siti speak though she may not be able to walk. Drahman said he was seeking help from the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) to enrol Siti for long-term physical rehabilitation and education at the Miri Sunflower Centre for special children.
