News

She lost 13kg to save a young mother’s life

d91256d1-9300-4915-9d40-87818ad8123a

For Madam Rabiah Hussain, losing weight was not about health or appearance.

It was about saving the life of a young mother dying of kidney failure whose story came to light in a Facebook post 11 months ago.

The mother of two, who is in her 30s, had suffered severe pregnancy complications that led to a stillborn birth and multiple organ failure, leaving her dependent on dialysis.

She had only months to live if a donor was not found.

Madam Rabiah, 53, decided to help the woman, who only wanted to be known as Sita.

During the pre-transplant evaluation, doctors informed Madam Rabiah that her body mass index was too high, putting her at greater surgical risk.

Weighing 92 kilogrammes then, she had to lose a significant amount of weight to proceed with the transplant.

“I was ready to donate, but then they told me I had to lose weight first. That was overwhelming,” recalled Madam Rabiah, a mother of three.

“But I kept thinking of Sita and her two young children. That gave me the strength to push through.”

“She was in a very bad state. Very weak and fragile. My sister even broke down seeing her like that.”

Madam Rabiah embarked on an intense fitness and diet regimen with the help of her son Mohd Anis, 29, a freelance personal trainer.

It included regular exercises such as swimming and walking daily.

She also followed a strict customised protein diet recommended by her son. It consisted of lean meats like chicken and fish and lots of vegetables.

Said Mr Anis: “Deciding to donate a kidney was a major step for my mother. We both understood that she had a journey ahead. She needed to lose weight and improve her overall health, especially after leading a sedentary lifestyle for so long.

“Adapting to the training, even the basics, was tough for her at first. But she stayed committed and gradually, the lifestyle changes began to pay off.

“It wasn’t always easy – staying disciplined with meals and ensuring proper nutrition was a challenge. But I’m grateful I could support her through it, and even more grateful that the kidney recipient is now safe and well.”

Madam Rabiah’s determination eventually paid off and she lost 13kg in just three months, dropping to 79kg and meeting the medical requirements for surgery.

Another reason Madam Rabiah wanted to help Ms Sita was because of her late elder brother who was killed in a motorcycle accident 24 years ago. It left an emptiness in her.

When she heard of Ms Sita’s plight, she decided to honour her brother’s memory by giving someone the gift of life.

“I wanted closure for my brother’s death. If someone had helped my brother maybe he would have been alive now. So I wanted to help someone.”

On Dec 17 last year, Madam Rabiah successfully donated her kidney.

Though she faced post-surgical challenges, she managed to recover within two weeks and gradually returned to her daily routine.

The senior administration and operations executive with the Asian Women’s Welfare Association returned to work on March 4 after two and a half months.

“I am so grateful for my colleagues as they were very understanding. They agreed to manage the workload while I was on hospitalisation leave.”

“I always make sure that I check on Sita. She’s on the road to recovery and I am so glad there weren’t any complications.

“This wasn’t just about me getting healthier. It was about giving someone another chance to live.”

Since the surgery, Madam Rabiah has taken to social media to share her journey, hoping to inspire others to consider organ donation.

She is maintaining her weight at 79kg and has been consistently following the diet plan.

She has slowed down on her workout regime as her doctor told her not to strain herself. She walks daily and hopes to resume swimming soon.

“I want people to know that sometimes, the biggest motivator for change is helping someone else,” she said. “Whether it’s losing weight or donating an organ, we are capable of more than we think.”

Mdm Rabiah Hussain working out.
Mdm Rabiah Hussain working out.
Photo: Rabiah Hussain
quote-icom
“I want people to know that sometimes, the biggest motivator for change is helping someone else. Whether it’s losing weight or donating an organ, we are capable of more than we think.”
Madam Rabiah Hussain
promote-epaper-desk
Read this week’s digital edition of Tabla! online
Read our ePaper