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She was found in a terrible condition in 2004 with maggots coming out from her breast. Even then, she had to be persuaded to go to the hospital for treatment because she knew she could not pay for it. She finally agreed after the Medical Social Worker assured her that financial assistance would be sought. Although Madam L has a daughter and two sons, none are in a position to support her financially. She lives with her daughter who has been unemployed for over three years due to medical reasons. Right now, their only source of money is the RM300 one of her sons gives her every month. He is in Malaysia but is trying to find work in Singapore so that he can better help his mother and sister. Unfortunately he has been unsuccessful so far. She has lost contact with the other son who is overseas and has left no contact details. Breadline has been helping the family financially and a volunteer has been assigned to look into the family’s needs. Madam R, 56, is responsible for her family of four but is not able to go out to work because she has to care for her husband who has been paralysed since 1998. He recently had to have both legs amputated and is due to have an eye operation. They have two daughters aged 14 and 15. The younger daughter has Down’s syndrome and attends a special school. The family receives financial assistance amounting to $450 per month from various charitable organisations but the amount is grossly insufficient to support a family of four comprising a disabled person and two children in school, one of whom has special needs. A Breadline volunteer visits the family at least once a month to give financial assistance, lend a sympathetic ear and help in any other way possible. |