Asfarina Asma, 47, has watched her 20-year-old son, Muhammad Nuzul Zulkarnain, battle the daily challenges of cerebral palsy and autism. Nuzul’s life is marked by constant pain and physical limitations due to his conditions.
“One of the biggest challenges Nuzul faced was the curvature of his leg. It caused him constant pain and agony,” said Asfarina.
Born prematurely at just 900 grammes, Nuzul was diagnosed with cerebral palsy hemiplegia, causing muscle tightness on one side of his body due to brain damage. His mother explained that the tightness feels like the severe cramps marathon runners experience.
Reflecting on the day of Nuzul’s birth, Asfarina admitted it was hard to accept that her son would have special needs. After an emergency labour, she was in the maternity ward while Nuzul was in the Special Care Nursery (SCN), and it took her a week to visit him.
“I couldn’t accept his condition and didn’t meet him for a week until the nurses from SCN called and asked why I hadn’t visited,” she explained.
Eventually, Asfarina was moved to the SCN and began to accept her son’s condition. Despite spending half a year in and out of the hospital, she recognised the journey as special.
“It was a bumpy road. Going in and out of the hospital, dealing with seizures and other illnesses, but Nuzul taught me how to face and overcome life’s challenges. I became more patient and content,” she said.
Nuzul’s medical issues make walking difficult and painful, necessitating the use of a wheelchair. He underwent surgery at seven to lengthen a muscle in his leg, but the pain deterred him from future surgeries. Instead, they opted for customised shoes to alleviate some of his discomfort.
Asfarina’s younger son, Muhammad Zaid Zulkarnain, 17, has been a constant companion and caregiver for Nuzul. He sacrifices his own desires, prioritising his brother’s needs above all else.
“Zaid is incredibly mature for his age. He has been caring for Nuzul since primary school and understands that one day his parents might not be able to look after Nuzul anymore,” Asfarina said.
Asfarina dreamed of purchasing customised shoes for Nuzul from Madonna Ortho & Neuro Rehab since 2019. The opportunity arose when she submitted Nuzul’s wish list to the PETRONAS 50 Dreams initiative, which fulfils the dreams of selected participants nationwide. PETRONAS made this dream a reality by flying Madonna Pereira, the company’s owner, to Miri to take Nuzul’s foot measurements.
“I was surprised and touched by PETRONAS’ generosity. I never imagined they would make Nuzul’s dream come true,” Asfarina said.
With his customised shoes, Nuzul can now walk with less pain, allowing him to live a more comfortable life.
