SINGAPORE — At 5 am, while most of her friends would still be asleep, Nurul Syafiqah Roslan wakes up, prepares medications for her mother, who suffers from various ailments, and sometimes cooks simple dishes. When she’s done with all these chores, she gets ready for school – after all, she is 12.

Nurul Syafiqah’s story is among those featured in a new book launched by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) on Friday (31 May). The book, “Love Triumphs”, is a collection of the personal stories of 13 real-life caregivers in Singapore, nine of whom are aged 25 and below.

The book is not available for sale, but 700 copies were given out to donors, volunteers and guests at NKF’s 50th Anniversary Charity Dinner on Friday.

NKF chief executive officer Mr Tim Oei said the book hopes to shed light on the struggles faced by caregivers.

“When a loved one has kidney disease, many struggle to cope and deal with the disease, frustrations and other day-to-day obligations while caring for their loved ones,” he said. “We wanted to share the caregivers’ real life experiences to offer console to any caregiver, especially the fellow caregivers of kidney patients, in knowing that they are not alone.”

THE GROWN-UP 12-YEAR-OLD

Nurul Syafiqah’s mother, Mdm Yanti Binte Mazlan, 45, has cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failure and a weak heart. She also has difficulty walking after a hip replacement operation.

The 12-year-old student of Bedok Green Primary School has had to step up as her mother’s main caregiver as her father died in 2017, a year after her mother was diagnosed with kidney failure.

Mdm Yanti’s ailments have rendered her almost immobile and she needs help to carry out simple tasks such as taking her medications, taking a shower, changing her clothes and putting on her shoes.

Nurul Syafiqah is aided by her sister, Nuryn Diyana, 10, and occasionally their grandmother, Patijah Elias, who is 68.

(From left) Mdm Patijah Elias, Mdm Yanti Binte Mazlan, Nurul Syafiqah and Nuryn Diyana, on a family outing to the mosque.

Still, caregiving takes up all her free time. After school, Nurul Syafiqah usually heads home to either spend time studying or take care of her mother.

Despite not being able to have fun like the most of her peers, Mdm Yanti said her daughter helps her out without complaint.

“She didn’t actually tell me, but I myself also used to be young, and I get the feeling that she wants to go out and be with her friends and all that,” she told TODAY.

Nurul Syafiqah herself is stoic about her struggles, saying that while it was tough at first to handle the caregiving duties and schoolwork, she has gotten used to it.

“It is okay for me, it is not tiring. I do it because I love her,” she said.

STRUGGLES MOTIVATE THEM TO SUCCEED

Other young caregivers featured in the book spoke of how their challenges have driven them to work hard and succeed in their studies.

Among them is Rizwana Begum Abdul Latiff, 19, who has been helping to take care of her father, Abdul Latiff, 71, since he was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure more than 10 years ago.

Ms Rizwana Begum's story is among those featured in a new book launched by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) on Friday (31 May).

Currently a Year 3 nursing student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Ms Rizwana said the most difficult time she faced was during her O-Level examinations, when she was too busy with her studies and could not help to take care of her father.

She also recalled times when she had tests the next day but was held up in the emergency department with her father.

But these difficult experiences have motivated her to pursue a degree and become a nurse.

“He (father) encouraged me and I personally witnessed what nurses have done and my family is very grateful to them and my dad’s healthcare team.”

Ng Jing Kang, 24, meanwhile, recounted in an interview with TODAY how it was unbearable for him to watch his father, who is on dialysis, struggle with needles that sometimes caused copious bleeding.

The family of five also struggled financially with his father’s hospital bills, he said.

“It feels like a part of growing up when your parents face that, and the roles are reversed,” said the Singapore Management University undergraduate.

“I also felt very grateful for my father for what he had done to raise me, and it gives me more motivation to study, to carry out my duties properly and lighten their burden so they don’t have to worry about me.”