News from Aunty Ahat

Soning Craft’s Malina Soning gives an update on the recent operation which one of the Sinompuru members had to go through, sharing the challenges faced by rural villagers needing medical attention.

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Image: Aunty Ahat (right) holding up a craft she has proudly made.

Aunty Ahat @ Inugiring Bokulop is a member of the Sinompuru Women’s Group. She is a widow with four children under her care. She went through a breast operation on 7th July 2009 in Hospital SMC Damai Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, to remove a swelling caused by a long term bacteria infection.

According to Aunty Ahat, “I first realized a small swelling 6 years ago. The swelling was probably caused by hardened breast milk which might had happened when I stopped breast feeding my youngest daughter, Anna.”

“I felt the swell grow bigger by the day and I knew this was not a normal swelling. But because of my eyesight problem and that my children were too young to accompany and care for me in the hospital, on top of not having money to pay for medical treatment – I did not consider seeking medical treatment as an option,” Aunty Ahat added.

“Now that a few years have passed and my daughter Anna is older, and with the support of friends and family such as Dr Puah Ser Hon, and Ms Reita Rahim and Coney’s family who helped with some of the expenses – I accepted the fact that I need to go for surgery.”

Aunty Ahat knocking holes into snail shells from the beach, which would be later made into these lovely accessories.

Initially before Aunty Ahat had the operation, she kept insisting that she did not want to stay in the hospital and trouble her children. She is also haunted by the memory of her late husband who died in the hospital from cancer. But with the support and encouragement from many people and her daughter Anna, who patiently accompanied and took care of her mother – Aunty Ahat finally accepted being warded in the hospital.

Since her operation, she has returned (from the village) to the hospital for a follow-up check up on 20th July 2009 and is very relieved and happy when the doctors informed her that she is recovering well. She also seems much healthier, happy and energetic.

With that she wants to wish everyone again, many thanks for their support and help in whichever way.

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Written by Malina Soning based on her observation and her exchanges with Aunty Ahat.
Translated by Puah Sze Ning.

Photos of Aunty Ahat by Wendell D. Gingging