When 69-year-old Mdm Habibah suffered a sudden stroke early last year, her life, and her husband Mr Amin’s, changed overnight. The stroke affected her speech and the movement on one side of her body, and the months that followed were some of their hardest.

For three months in hospital, Mdm Habibah struggled not just with movement, but with the emotional weight of her new reality. Loud sounds stressed her. Mealtimes made her anxious. Some days felt so overwhelming that she told her husband, “If you cannot jaga me, might as well send me to a nursing home.”

But Mr Amin, her husband of 43 years, refused to give up. At 68, he quit his part-time job as a kitchen helper to care for her full-time. He tried everything he could: reading up, seeking treatments, even exploring acupuncture and home therapy, but the costs were too heavy to sustain. Under the stress, his weight dropped from 67kg to 57kg.

Their turning point came when a home therapist introduced them to the Day Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) at AMK – THKH, just a short walk from home. That simple referral changed everything.

When Mdm Habibah first arrived at DRC, she could not walk at all. A year later, after consistent rehabilitation, she could now walk short distances with a quad stick. She could lift her arms again. Her confidence began to return.

Together, the couple also joined our Stroke Self-Management Programme with seven other families. There, Mr Amin learned how to check blood pressure, understand stroke symptoms, and manage diet, all essential skills for caring for his wife at home.

“He cuts and chops the food, then shows it to me,” Mdm Habibah said with a small smile as Mr Amin playfully added, “She still supervises!”

The programme gave them knowledge, but more importantly, hope. Meeting others, including a facilitator who had survived three strokes, made them feel less alone.

Today, Mdm Habibah looks brighter and stronger. Mr Amin has regained weight. They enjoy jalan-jalan together again, from Arab Street to the Esplanade, taking in music, sights, and the joy of simply being out together. Surrounded by their 12 children and grandchildren, they continue their journey with renewed optimism.

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Rehabilitation restored Mdm Habibah’s dignity, independence and moments of joy she feared she had lost. For caregivers like Mr Amin, it offered knowledge, reassurance and a community that understands.

Your donation helps families like theirs continue receiving the therapy, education and support they need to rebuild their lives after illness.