Sate Sales Cannot Cover Treatment Costs for Teenager With Severe Lupus

For a family in Taman Peramu Jaya, Pekan, the smoke from their sate stall now carries a painful reminder of their daughter’s illness. The income from selling the food barely covers rent and household necessities, while the family also faces mounting medical expenses.

Juridah Mohd. Zainal Shah, 16, is bedridden with stage-five systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, which has affected her kidneys. The illness was detected at Pekan Hospital in November last year, after which she was referred to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan.

Her mother, Siti Khodhijah Mohammad, said Juridah’s skin burns easily and her face, legs and hands frequently swell. The teenager has spent long periods in hospital and had to leave school because of the disease.

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Her skin burns easily, and her face, legs and hands often swell until her body becomes extremely weak. She had to stay in the HTAA ward for a long time. Seeing her suffer every day breaks my heart.

The family’s sate business brings in an uncertain income, while monthly living costs reach about RM2,500. Treatment and repeated trips to Pekan Hospital and the Kuantan hospital add roughly RM1,000 a month. The family travels two or three times a week when doctors require it and also buys special SPF50 sunscreen to reduce Juridah’s skin pain at home.

Siti Khodhijah is asking authorities and members of the public to help the family maintain Juridah’s treatment before her condition becomes more critical. Donations can be made through a Bank Islam account in her name, and she can be contacted at the number provided by the family.

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My husband only sells sate. We have to travel to HTAA Kuantan and Pekan Hospital two or three times a week, as instructed by the doctor. We truly cannot afford it anymore.