Yoram Reman (second right) with his father, Reman Paren (right), mother Limin Scot (left), and sister Era looking at the foodstuff donated by well-wishers. PHOTO: JOHN CHAN
By Johnson Kadam
KUCHING: Life in the city for the family of leukaemia-stricken Penan boy, Yonam Reman, is now more bearable, thanks to the generosity of Kuching Central Rotary Club and KKB Engineering Berhad.
They can now cook anytime they want because the Rotarians and the public-listed company yesterday gave them what they had wished for – a gas cylinder, stove and cooking utensils.
Yonam, 14, is presently being treated at the Sarawak General Hospital. He has been here since August, and doctors have told his family that they may need to stay behind for at least another six months.
Accompanying him here are his father, Reman Paren, 48, mother, Limin Scot, 33, sisters Rosita,10, Christina, 8, and Era, 4, and cousin Josephine Jiki, 17. They are putting up at the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) centre.
Reman told Eastern Times last Wednesday that life in the city was tough for his family who hails from Long Napir, Ulu Limbang, a remote part of the state. One of their biggest problems, he said, was preparation of meals.
Although SCCS had give them top-class treatment and some provisions to cook their meals, Reman said it would be great if they could get hold of cooking appliances and gas stove to enable them to prepare meals as and when the need arose.
One of the reasons for this wish was because Rosita and Christina were temporarily studying at SK Batu Lintang and they return home at odd hours.
Kuching Central Rotary Club past president Kho Ping told Eastern Times yesterday that they first knew about the plight of Yonam’s family from their counterpart in Brunei Darussalam.
Thankful to SCCS
“We are very thankful to SCCS for providing accommodation to the entire family. Under normal circumstances, only the father or mother is allowed to accompany the patient,” Kho said.
He added that Rotarians had been working very closely with SCCS to assist other cancer sufferers and their families who were staying at the center.
“We may not be able to make big contributions, but we have been and will continue to do our best to assist such families in whatever way we can,” he assured.
Meanwhile, SCCS administrator, Johnny Tan, gave the thumbs up to both the Rotarians and KKB Engineering for being sensitive to the suffering of others.
“We appreciate their deeds and we look forward to getting other forms of contributions which could alleviate the burden of Yonam’s family. I understand they need some financial aid as well because their two daughters are studying here,” Tan said.
Tan said well-wishers who wish to contribute could come directly to the SCCS centre at Maxwell Villa 2, Off Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, or call him at 082-245876.
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