สไลด์โชว์ Disabled, but more than able mums

[url=http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/05/13/more-than-able-to-be-a-mum-starmetro-talks-to-three-disabled-women-who-are-raising-happy-and-healthy/]http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/05/13/more-than-able-to-be-a-mum-starmetro-talks-to-three-disabled-women-who-are-raising-happy-and-healthy/[/url] Reena says she has no maid and manages housework with her husband. She works for CIMB bank as a customer email support personnel and commutes to work by LRT Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/05/13/more-than-able-to-be-a-mum-

[/p] RAISING children can be a challenging task for most parents, so surely it's even more daunting for a disabled mother who has to struggle with her own disabilities while bringing up a child. This Mothers Day, three such women share their story with StarMetro. They all met their spouses after becoming disabled but have coped with motherhood, career and family in their own ways. They are mothers to healthy, active toddlers and enjoy every moment of bringing up their families. [b]Sarahjean Christina Fernandez[/b] Fernandez wants her daughter to know there are disabled people like her in the world. Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/05/13/more-than-able-to-be-a-mum-starmetro-talks-to-three-disabled-women-who-are-raising-happy-and-healt

[/p] Thirty-two-year-old Fernandez was a flight attendant before she was involved in a car accident that left her a paraplegic. Today she has a three-year-old daughter and cherishes motherhood. “When the doctors told me that I could not have children after the accident, all my hopes of one day having a family were dashed,” said Fernandez, who was 21 when she met with the accident. She said she was disheartened after hearing hurtful remarks from the medical staff while undergoing treatment. But with the support of her parents, especially her mother Cindy Narcis, she was able to gather her strength, learned to drive again and enrolled at the Open University Malaysia. Fernandez, who recently completed her bachelor in communications with honours, thanked her mother for staying by her side through the worst moments of her life. She bumped into her future husband, a secondary schoolmate, when she underwent treatment at a government hospital where he was working. “He is a doctor and I met him at the hospital. We reconnected and later got married. “He is a good man and accepted a disabled me. “When we were teenagers, he wanted to be my boyfriend but I turned him down back then because I thought of him only as a good friend,” said Fernandez. “My in-laws are the nicest people I have met, and they have been supportive and helpful all along,” said the Penang-born who spent most of her growing-up years in Klang. The family was overjoyed when they found out Fernandez was pregnant within months of marriage. After the baby was born she had help from her maid, but mostly Fernandez and her husband raised their daughter on their own. “I was not able to bathe my daughter or run and pick her up when she cried as an infant. “But I was able to breastfeed, cook, console and discipline my daughter like other mothers,” said Fernandez, who has difficulties with her grip since the accident and confessed that the baby accidentally slipped from her arms once. Fernandez was a flight attendant with MAS before she meet with a car accident and injured her spine. Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/05/13/more-than-able-to-be-a-mum-starmetro-talks-to-three-disabled-women-who-are-raising-

[/p] Despite her disability, she ran errands and would bring her daughter along when she had to undergo physical therapy. She worked from home for an international cosmetics company until she gave birth, and planned to return to work soon. “I want my daughter to know there are disabled people like me in the world. “My biggest fear is her being embarrassed by my condition; to avoid this, I take her everywhere I go,” said Fernandez, who often brings her daughter with her when she meets up with friends who are also disabled. The optimistic mother plans to create a helpline for those who suffer from disability. [b]Reena Lalit Kumar[/b] Reena with her htree-old son and husband Tushar D. Patel.

[/p] Thirty-seven-year-old Reena was pursuing her final semester in Bachelors in Mass Communications at Universiti Malaya when she became a hit-and-run victim at the age of 21. She was riding pillion on her brother’s motorcycle. “My operation was delayed by a few days due to lack of doctors as it was a public holiday then,” said Reena who became a paraplegic. She graduated with good grades, learned to be independent just eight months after the accident and was hired by CIMB. “I now attend to customer email enquiries for CIMB and commute by LRT to work,” said Reena, who met her husband through social media years after her accident. Her husband worked in London, and his parents were initially hesitant over the relationship. However, they are now proud of her and adores her three-year-old son. “My husband moved to Malaysia and is my pillar of support. “When I became pregnant, I was flooded with rude personal questions. “I still get such questions when people meet me with my son. “Some doctors scolded me for getting pregnant because of my condition but they failed to realise that I was already independent, I have a career and I too have dreams of raising my own children. “I also have good family support,” said Reena, who hoped the public would be more kind to people like her. She manages her family with the help of her husband. “I have no maid, and I cannot bathe my son but I will dress him. “I can even change his diapers, cook and play with him. “My son is active, cheerful and obedient,” said Reena, who loves going on holidays. “I recently did parasailing and I had so much fun. My advice to other disabled women is to pursue their dreams and have children if they wish to. “Don't let others tell you what you cannot do and break your spirit,” she said. [b]Siti Zuraidah Muhammad Husain[/b] Siti Zuraidah playing her 15-month-old son.

[/p] When she was born, 35-year-old Siti Zuraidah was a regular baby but she developed a tumour in her spine at the age of six months. After numerous surgeries, she became wheelchair-bound at 12 years old. Her mother Hasnah Mohd Shariff, 72, made sure she placed importance on academic success and guided her every step of the way. “My mother is a tiger mum who would not accept no for an answer. “She carried me every day to school from Year One to Year Six. Due to my multiple surgeries, I could not attend secondary school and studied from home. I did well in the SPM examinations. “My mother followed me to university, and even when I pursued my masters in Open University Malaysia., she would ask the lecturers to repeat certain points after the lecture session if I could not understand. “She also advised other students who lacked motivation in class. My mother was very popular in campus. “When I graduated, everyone said my mother deserved an award for standing by me,” said Siti Zuraidah, who has a masters in Business Administration. She met her husband at a supermarket. She runs a home-based business selling Ice Cream Malaysia with his help. Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/05/13/more-than-able-to-be-a-mum-starmetro-talks-to-three-disabled-women-who-ar