Jason Foo Ru Fu was a vibrant child who loved to help with the household chores and play computer games like most boys.
However, an incident on October 3, 2021 caused severe brain damage to the 15-year-old boy and left him paralysed in a vegetative state. With his condition, Jason is in need of constant care by his parents.
The high cost of long-term medical treatment is taking a financial toll on his family. His father, a Malaysian, has a weak heart and is unable to a find suitable job while his mother, Josephine Kuan, works part-time as a runner.
“We were shocked and dismayed when we found out about our son’s situation. There’s nothing we can do as the doctor informed us that Jason suffers from brain damage. We hope for a miracle and I pray every day for his recovery.
“We spend over BND1,000 a month on Jason, most of it on milk and diapers. I used to buy groceries every week but now I only have budget to shop once a month.
“We need any form of assistance we can find. Since my son and husband are Malaysians, it is difficult to obtain help,” said Kuan.
She said Jason used to cook for the family and help with laundry. He loved playing games during his free time.
Jason has five siblings – two older brothers, two older sisters and one younger brother. Two siblings work in low-paying jobs while another two are still seeking employment. The family is staying at a relative’s home in RPN Meragang.
Jason’s family is one of the recipients of assistance from the Zahara Charity Foundation. The organisation has helped ease the family’s burden by providing medical and comfort supplies.
Kuan conveyed heartfelt appreciation to the group and said, “Zahara Charity Foundation has been providing assistance in the past months and we are grateful for the aid.”
Zahara Charity Foundation recently launched the Zahara Charity Community Fund to collect contributions from the public. The fund will be used to help those in need of resources such as medical and comfort supplies, household goods and food. Beneficiaries include single mothers and families needing home repairs and improvements. – James Kon
