Growing Family, A Rising Struggle

When Natahsah found out she was pregnant in May 2024, she was shocked. After an ectopic pregnancy that resulted in the loss of a fallopian tube, she had been told her chances of conceiving again were low.

But life had other plans — and baby Naura arrived safely two months ago.

This joyful arrival came with complex realities.

Juggling Two Young Children with High Needs

Natahsah is a full-time caregiver to her 6-year-old son, Naufal, who is on the autism spectrum and requires constant care. He is non-verbal, still uses diapers, and cannot attend mainstream childcare as he needs one-on-one support. He also has strict dietary restrictions and can only drink goat’s milk, which the family must purchase out of pocket, alongside lactose-free, egg-free, and coconut-free food items.

With a newborn in her arms and still recovering from childbirth, Natahsah is struggling to even send Naufal to his early intervention sessions, which last only three hours. She is holding on in hopes that once Naufal turns seven in 2026, he will be able to attend a SPED school, where he can receive more structured support.

One Income, One Uncertain Future

In 2023, Iskandar finally secured a contract role as a science lab coordinator at a university, a big step up from his previous daily-rated work. But now, the company has lost its service tender. He has been told he may either be redeployed to Tuas or let go completely.

Currently, Iskandar is still receiving his monthly take-home salary of $1,700 to support the family.  

• – If redeployed: he will be out of the house from 6:30AM to 7:00PM — leaving Natahsah to care for both children entirely on her own.
• – If terminated: the family will lose their only stable source of income.

Iskandar and Natahsah expect to hear back about Iskandar’s employment status and their appeal for more social assistance within the next 1–2 months. Until then, they are in limbo.

To add to their worries, Natahsah’s newborn daughter has recently developed a severe case of eczema. The heat has been triggering painful flare-ups, causing her to cry herself to sleep every night. Natahsah has already brought her to the doctor and is awaiting a consultation with a specialist on 28 April 2025. To relieve her daughter’s discomfort, the family tried using a portable aircon, but it proved ineffective and unsafe as Naufal, who is very curious, often climbs on it and presses the buttons. A wall-mounted air-conditioning unit would make a big difference, but it comes with a cost of $2,440.90. With this support, the family can better manage the children’s health and sensory needs in a safe and more comfortable environment. Some of the factors considered when selecting an aircon model included its reputation, sustainability, eco-friendliness, and the ease of sourcing spare parts in the event of a breakdown.

Why We’re Fundraising

Ray of Hope is raising a total of $2,100 to support the family with groceries over the next three months (at $700/month).

Even the smallest contribution brings this family one step closer to stability and comfort. Your support matters—because no parent should have to choose between meeting their child’s basic needs and their health.

The family is hopeful their appeal will be approved and that Iskandar’s job situation will stabilise — but these next three months are critical. Your donation will help this family stay afloat as they try to regain stability. Every dollar goes directly to their groceries and air-conditioning unit.