Resilient Teen Suspends Schooling to Care for Stroke-Afflicted Father

In the village of Kampung Gong Ubi Keling, 14-year-old Muhammad Nur Irfan Ab. Ghani has made the difficult decision to pause his education to become the primary caregiver for his father. The student from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tempinis, who participates in the Integrated Special Education Program (PPKI), has not attended school since late June.

His father, Ab. Ghani A. Rahman, 49, has been bedridden since suffering a severe brain stroke on June 28. The stroke impacted his respiratory system, leaving him incapacitated. Muhammad Nur Irfan's mother, Zubaidah Abdullah, 44, shared that her son willingly takes on the responsibility of caring for his father, especially during the early hours when she leaves to run her small business.

"He is sad that he cannot study like his friends, but he says this is his responsibility," Zubaidah said. "He is willing to look after his father when I go out to do business starting at 5 a.m."

The family's financial situation has become precarious as Ab. Ghani, who worked as a house painter, can no longer provide for them. Zubaidah hopes her son can resume his studies next year if her husband's health improves. Her husband also suffers from heart disease and high blood pressure, having been hospitalized for three nights in May due to a heart attack. The family is relying on Zubaidah's small business income, with the children taking turns to care for their father, including feeding him every four hours and managing his daily needs.