Pisang Goreng Seller and Factory Worker Leave Behind 8 Kids After Dying From COVID-19
The eight siblings are now staying with their unemployed aunt in Rawang.
By Arisha Rozaidee — 21 Jul 2021, 12:47 PM
Eight siblings were recently orphaned after losing both of their parents to COVID-19 over the weekend
19-year-old Nazurah Nabilah Benyajeed shared with Malaysiakini that her parents, died from COVID-19 only three days apart from each other and left behind eight children between the ages of four and 19.
She said that her father, 45-year-old Benyajeed Bernie, who used to sell banana fritters for a living, passed away on Friday, 16 July.
Meanwhile, her mother, 43-year-old factory worker Noraini Ibrahim, died on Sunday, 18 July, reported Kosmo!
A majority of Nabilah's siblings are still enrolled in school, except for the youngest, who is only four years old.
Her late mother had tested positive for COVID-19 first and then her father was exposed to the virus as a close contact.
"At first, my mother tested positive on 18 June so she went to (the quarantine and treatment centre) MAEPS, and then on 21 June, she had difficulties breathing then she went straight into the intensive care unit (ICU) and was unconscious until she passed away yesterday (16 July)," Nabilah explained to Malaysiakini.
"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 30 June.
"He was placed in the ICU at Selayang Hospital after that and was put into a coma. He remained unconscious until he passed away last Friday," she added.
Kosmo! noted that all of the eight children were unable to attend their mother's burial in Jerantut, Pahang due to the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Nabilah and her siblings are currently living with their unemployed aunt in Rawang
She noted that they are doing fine now and had just finished their quarantine period.
Nabilah, who is a student at Mersing Polytechnic College in Johor, added that they are currently waiting to have their pink wristbands removed.
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," said the young woman.
Neighbours and several kind strangers have reached out to the family to offer food and monetary assistance. However, Nabilah noted that she is still open to accepting 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 by email at [email protected] or you may deposit money into her bank account:
NAZURAH NABILAH BINTI BENYAJEED
12207020456204 (Bank Islam)
