7979急难故事 尽头其实是转机 The Dead End is Actually a Turning Point

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At 6 a.m. the city came to life with the soft morning glow creeping in at dawn, Zhi Peng (Pseudonym) dragging his aching and tired body out of bed and went to the kitchen to make a cup of milk for his mother, then went out to buy breakfast for his father. He would start to do house chores after settling his parents’ breakfast. When all these were done, he hurriedly went to work, grabbing two slices of bread for breakfast nearby his workplace and began another hectic day. Every month, he used up all his money on his parents, paying rent, buying expensive milk and disposable diapers, etc. He is the only child and the sole breadwinner. He is aware that everything in this household will collapse without him. Whenever this came to mind, he would feel the tremendous pressure on his shoulders, and sighed “What is the purpose for me to live on?”   ​

Life drastic change

Zhi Peng, who is in his forties, used to live alone in Penang after he shifted from Kuala Lumpur before living with his parents. He rented a room in an apartment in Penang and lived a hassle-free life without worrying about meals. As a responsible delivery man, he would transport goods to designated destinations with his car every morning. Although his salary was not high, he could still have some savings as he is a humble and simple man. His only wish was to live a peaceful life, with occasional extravagance on food or things to reward himself.  

However, this peaceful and stable life changed drastically, when heavy responsibilities fell upon his shoulder. In 2022, his parents’ health suddenly deteriorated, his father became physically impaired due to a stroke and his mother was diagnosed with alzheimer.  They are no longer capable of managing themselves. Therefore, his parents had to move to Penang to live with him in another room he rented for them. With this addition, Zhi Peng had to carry the pressure of their livelihood and financial burden alone. Not only did his expenses increase, but he also had to live with them to take care of their meals and living conditions. Besides his full-time job, he has to take up part-time jobs to cover their extra expenses. Thankfully, his landlord did not collect the rent for the additional room, and it was a great relief for him. He also received RM500 of allowance from the Ministry of Social Welfare for taking care of OKU parents. Nevertheless, Zhi Peng still has to live on a tight budget, trying to make ends meet by working tirelessly, and the burdens of taking care of his parents had affected him physically and emotionally.                        
​

Pr. Lim Lang Huang is the 7979 Holistic Care Station’s Volunteer Manager of Butterworth Life Baptist Church, who is in-charge of caring for the underprivileged in their community. She visited Zhi Peng immediately upon HQ 7979’s referral. When Pr. Lim Lang Huang came to understand his condition, she decided to apply for 7979 Manna Food bag to relieve some burden off his shoulder. After a long-term caring and accompanying, Pr. Lim Lang Huang discovered that Zhi Peng’s problems were not limited to lack of food but also his emotional condition as he is constantly under tremendous pressure. So Pr. Lim Lang Huang always sent short messages to greet and check-up on him. Consequently, Zhi Peng slowly gained motivation to live, he planned to use his savings to buy a unit of Rumah Mampu Milik jointly launched by the Penang government and corporates. Their condition seems to improve gradually…        

another blow 

Another blow hit Zhi Peng’s slowly gained motivated life. His mother, who is in her eighties, initially still capable of consuming normal meals, hurt her spine after she fell out of her bed. Thus she can no longer take solid food, but has to consume nutritional milk that goes into her stomach through a tube inserted through her nasal passage. To ensure sufficient nutrient intake, the medical personnel suggested she drink a particular brand of nutritional milk. Besides this, the doctor also advised that Zhi Peng’s mother should purchase a spine-friendly nursing bed. However, it was too costly for Zhi Peng, so he had to forgo that option. The savings that he initially kept for purchasing a new house depleted quickly due to his mother's worsening condition and massive expenses. At that moment, Zhi Peng felt that the dream and little motivation that he slowly built up became meaningless.  

These things, such as adult diapers, were bought by Zhi Peng to care for his mother

“I’ve worked so hard for so long, yet I still can’t see the way out.” Zhi Peng who had been taking care of his parents alone for a long time, slowly developed many negative thoughts, such as “I take care of them, but who is going to take care of me?” He felt lonely and unbearable… Every month, he would advance a sum not more than RM3000 of his salary to pay rental and utility fees, then buy things such as diapers, nutritional milk, father’s meal and so on.  There was once when his car broke down, it needed a long-term massive repair, but his job required a car to transport goods, so he turned out renting a car to transport goods. Zhi Peng did confess to Pr. Lim Lang Huang that he couldn’t see the purpose for him to live on, he even had suicidal thoughts. Nevertheless, he continued to serve his parents relentlessly, even though he was so tired, while worrying that if he fell sick, then nobody could take care of his parents, so he carried painkillers with him at all times. 

The pressure of life has taken a toll on Zhi Peng, his brain was overwhelmed with negative thoughts, he did not have anyone to pour out to, until he shared it with Pr. Lim Lang Huang. She patiently listened to him pouring out his thoughts with tears rolling down his cheeks. As Zhi Peng wiped off the tears, he felt relief that at last someone heard his sorrow, his shoulder immediately felt lighter, and a long gone smile reemerged from his face. Later, the Care Station applied to 7979 Family Crisis Intervention Fund for aid on behalf of Zhi Peng. January of 2025, Zhi Peng went to the Care Station to collect the money, it was not a lot, but he could use it to pay the rent, it gave him some moment of relief. People that helped Zhi Peng were not limited to Pr. Lim. At the beginning of 2025, other volunteers at the Care Station also extended their hands to him. Zhi Peng’s mother was also selected to receive 4 packs of “Metabolic Basic” milk powder every month, which nutritionists and food therapists of Alpro Pharmacy prepared. Finally, the pressure of a son’s duty became lighter.               

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清晨六点，当城市在黎明的微光中静悄悄苏醒，志平（化名）带着疲惫、酸痛的身躯从被窝中起身，走到厨房为母亲泡奶粉，接着买早餐给父亲；当他安顿父母、做完家务事后，便匆匆出门，在公司附近吃了两片面包，开始一天忙碌的工作。每个月，他把刚挣到的钱都花在父母身上：还房租、购买昂贵的奶粉和尿布等等。他不仅是家里唯一的孩子，也是唯一一个经济支柱。他深深知道这家若没有了他，所有的一切将瞬间倒塌。每每想到这些，沉重的压力涌上心头，志平不禁发出感叹——“我为什么活着”？

生活发生巨变

四十多岁的志平，在与父母同住之前，早年便从吉隆坡迁来槟城定居，在槟城一座公寓里租一间小房居住。当时，他过着无忧无虑、三餐温饱的日子。每天早上，他身为送货员，需要驾驶自己的车，尽责地把货物送到指定地点；虽然收入微薄，却不求大富大贵，对物质的要求也不高，每个月有做储蓄。他只想过上安稳的生活，偶尔可以花点钱享用美食、购买稍微昂贵的东西来犒赏自己。

然而，这样的生活突然发生巨变，重大的责任打破志平那原本平凡、稳定的日子。2022年，父母亲健康突然恶化：父亲中风行动不便，母亲患上老人痴呆症，他们失去生活自理能力。于是，父母亲从吉隆坡搬到槟城与他同住。为了安顿父母的住所，志平多租一间房给父母。这一住，家中的生活重担和经济压力瞬间落在志平一个人身上。他的开销不仅激增，还需全权负责照顾双亲的饮食起居。除了正职，他也兼职做其它的工作，以增加收入。幸而，房东没有向志平多收一间房的租金，让他可以喘一口气。他也有为父母向马来西亚社会福利部申请照顾父母（残障人士）RM500的援助金。尽管如此，志平依旧咬紧牙关，默默忙着生活，每天在繁重的工作与照顾父母之间奔波，心力交瘁。

林兰芳传道是北海生命浸信教会7979全人关怀站志管人，负责关心社区里的弱势群体。当她接到7979转介志平的消息后，就前往拜访志平。当林传道了解到他一家面临的困境后，决定为他们申请“7979吗哪食物包”，以缓解他们的生活负担。随着长期的关怀与陪伴，林传道渐渐发现，志平不仅仅是面临物质上的困境，其内心饱受异常的煎熬，因此时常发短讯问候和关心志平的近况。于是，志平有了生活的动力，并计划使用储蓄向政府订购一间半私人房屋。家里的情况似乎逐步获得改善......

再次的打击

一场意外再次打击志平生活的动力。八十岁的母亲忽然在床上，因重心不稳，不慎从床边跌下来，导致脊椎受伤。就此，她不只是卧床不起，再也无法像从前那样好好进食。医生为母亲在鼻子上插入鼻胃管，以便将泡好的奶粉透过吸管输入她的胃里，以获取营养。为了摄取足够的营养，医护人员告诉志平，母亲只能吸收X牌奶粉。此外，医生建议志平为母亲添购有益于脊椎的医疗床，但不便宜，他只能作罢。他原本为了改善家庭生活而努力存钱购买房屋，母亲健康恶化的意外事件和庞大费用的支出，迫使他辛苦积攒的储蓄几乎在短期内灰飞烟灭。好不容易建立的梦想和生活动力，这一刻对志平而言，似乎变得毫无意义。

志平为了照顾母亲而添购的用品，包括纸尿片。

“努力了那么久，但是依然看不到尽头” 长期独自为照顾父母的辛劳，令志平忍不住产生这些种种负面的想法。“我照顾他们，但是谁来照顾我。” 他孤单难耐......每个月，他常常向老板预支不到三千令吉的薪水来缴付房租、水电费，其余就是添购尿布、奶粉和父亲的餐饮费等等。有次他的车子出了问题，需要长期送修。由于工作需要用到车子，他只好每天租车来载货。志平向林兰芳传道坦言：他看不到活下去的意义，也有轻生的念头。虽然如此，他仍撑着疲劳的身子来照顾父母，深怕有朝一日自己病倒了，无人照顾父母。所以随时预备好止痛药。

种种的生活压力和负面思想涌现在志平的脑海中，他不知可以向谁诉说内心的苦楚，只好在一次机会中告诉林传道。林传道耐心地听志平说完他的苦楚。此时，眼泪从志平的眼角滑落；他抹了湿润的眼角，仿佛终于有人听到他的心声。他的肩膀似乎放松了许多，脸上也迎来了久违的笑颜。随后，关怀站再次为志平申请7979急难救助金。2025年1月，志平来关怀站索取这笔经费，数额不多，但他能用这笔经费偿还房租，也为他艰难的生活带来些许喘息的机会。2025年伊始，帮助志平的人不仅仅有林传道，关怀站的其他志工正向志平伸出援手，以及志平的母亲成功从大专药剂（Alpro Pharmacy）获得每个月四包由营养师和饮食治疗师特调的“Metabolic Basic”营养奶粉。儿子生活的压力有所缓解。

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目录
7979急难故事 尽头其实是转机
7979急难故事 他有家了
7979急难故事 失去依靠，重获新生
7979大家庭 7979志管人区域性大会（沙巴） 
7979动起来 （2024年9月至2025年1月）
福气临门  发现新资源
7979资讯台
大家一起7979  在变局中，行真爱