Eight siblings orphaned within 3 days due to Covid-19

 

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage the country, the number of deaths due to the disease have remained consistently high over the past month, often breaking the 100-mark daily.

Among these figures are the parents of 19-year-old Nazurah Nabilah Yajeed and her seven younger siblings, ranging from 18 to four years old.

Her parents, who previously earned a living by hawking banana fritters, passed away from Covid-19 within the span of three days, leaving Nabilah and her siblings to fend for themselves.

Most of them are still schooling, with the exception of her four-year-old sibling. Nabilah herself is a student at Mersing Polytechnic College in Johor.

She said her father passed away last Friday (July 16) and, two days later on Sunday (July 18), her mother passed away from Covid-19 as well.

“At first, my mother tested positive on June 18 so she went to (the quarantine and treatment centre) Maeps, and then on June 21, she had difficulties breathing then she went straight into the intensive care unit (ICU) and was unconscious until she passed away yesterday.

“My father was a close contact of my mother. I can’t remember what day he took the test and was confirmed positive but he had difficulties breathing and was hospitalised on June 30.

“He was placed into the ICU at the Selayang Hospital after that and was put into a coma. He remained unconscious until he passed away last Friday,” said Nabilah, who appeared to be calm throughout her conversation with Malaysiakini yesterday.

She and her siblings are now living with their aunt in Bukit Beruntung, Rawang, Selangor.

Her aunt is not working and previously tested positive for Covid-19 herself.

Nabilah added that they are all fine now and have just completed their quarantine period. They are currently waiting to get their pink wristbands cut.

Despite the tragedy that has befallen their family, she knows life must go on, especially when she has seven younger siblings to look after.

“Yes, I am upset and I am still sad, but it is okay. I need to continue living with my younger siblings,” she said.

Nabilah said she has so far received help from neighbours and even several kind strangers, who have reached out to provide food and monetary assistance.

But she said she is open to more assistance in order to help her family get back on their feet.

For those who would like to reach out to Nabilah to provide assistance, she can be contacted at nazurahkai14@gmail.com. - Mkini