IPOH: Despite medical advice to go for an operation, a man refused to go to hospital, saying that he doesn’t want to leave his bedridden wife.
Yea Soon Bah, 76, from Taman Tasek Mewah here, said doctors found some cancerous cells on his prostate and advised him to have an operation about a year ago.
“I decided not to do it because no one will take care of my wife if something were to happen to me. At my age, I felt it is better not to do it.
“I believe the operation will also be costly and I don’t want to burden my children, who are having financial issues themselves,” he told a press conference held by Ipoh Barat MCA coordinator Low Guo Nan at his home on Friday.
Yea, who used to work as an odd job labourer, hopes to get some financial assistance from the public to help him and his 66-year-old wife, Wong Ah Boon, who suffered a stroke about two years ago, leaving her paralysed.
He said he stopped working since 2001 due to mobility issues.
“A tree fell on me at Jalong, Sungai Siput, in 1974 that affected my movement.
“I can still take up some light jobs after the incident, but my condition has deteriorated as I became older,” he said, adding that he also had diabetes, gout, high blood pressure and cataract.
He is also using a urine bag because of his prostate problem.
Yea said his monthly expenses was about RM1,000, with RM350 for his house rent.
His utility bills are about RM150, while he needs about RM250 to buy adult diapers for his wife.
“A bag with 10 diapers costs about RM16 and sometimes, she would need five to six pieces a day,” he said, adding that he would sometimes get medication for himself and his wife at the Simee government health clinic.
Friends would sometimes give him money and food.
“But I cannot be relying on them all the time,” he added.
Yea said his son works for a house window tinting company in Kuala Lumpur while his daughter works as a painter here.
“My daughter will give me some money whenever she can.”
He also has to take care of his daughter’s three children, aged 11, two and six months old, when she goes to work with her husband.
Low hopes that donors can lend Yea a good bed or mattress for his wife, who is also suffering from pressure sores due to being constantly in bed.
“She is sleeping on a plastic-covered mattress, as Yea does not want his wife to wet the mattress. His wife also needs L8-sized diapers and some foodstuff,” he said.
Low said Yea’s Social Welfare Department aid application had been approved and he was expected to receive about RM500 starting next month.
“Those who wish to help can contact me at 012-532 1128,” Low added.