36-year-old Mdm Zaleha* suffers from debilitating and crippling depression since 2016. She has been unable to work due to her Major Depressive Disorder and Generalised Anxiety Disorder. Further incapacitated by severe migraine attacks and fainting spells, she has found it hard to get back on her feet despite her best intentions.

Her 5 children, between the ages of 7 to 15 years old, are her motivation to keep going. She tries her best to provide the best possible care for them and admits that she is deeply distressed by their increasing needs. Most of her children suffer from severe asthma, eczema, and varying severities of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Her fourth boy, 9, has been struggling in school and is undergoing assessment for suspected Dyslexia. Adding to her distress, her 11-year-old daughter has shown unexpected weight gain and is pre-diabetic. She is under medical review for suspected Thyroid issues.

Juggling between managing her children’s needs and corresponding medical appointments as well as her own, Mdm Zaleha tries to suppress the chronic anxiety of being fully reliant on social assistance for their needs. She prioritises filling up her freezer with a month’s worth of supplies once the funds are credited to her.

“Most important to me, is making sure my kids won’t go hungry and have a safe roof over their heads.” Thereafter, money is carefully budgeted to pay bills and miscellaneous items that come with the children’s schooling needs. With increasing water and electricity costs, her accumulative utility arrears have ballooned to the point where services might be disconnected. To make matters worse, her gas stove has started malfunctioning – out of 2 stove tops, only one can be switched on, while the other appears to be leaking gas.

How can you help?

Your contribution of $2,552.90* would provide the following:

• 6 months of utility bills inclusive of installment payments
• An extra set of school uniforms for her children
• A new table-top gas stove

*Funds raised will be paid directly to vendors.

Find out more:

Once happily married, Mdm Zaleha has been divorced from her ex-husband since 2020 due to her mental health struggles straining their relationship. The two are amicable and up till today, Mdm Zaleha readily helps her ex-husband who has fallen in hard financial times while caregiving for his elderly mother with Stage 4 Cancer. Knowing that he is struggling to afford food at times, she always keeps her doors open welcoming him anytime for meals and to spend time with the children. 

Mdm Zaleha dreams of a time when her health would stabilise enough for her to go back to work. She wants to be a better provider for her children, and also be able to give back when she has received so much. With her current situation, Mdm Zaleha is determined to work closely with social services to slowly work towards financial and emotional stability.