A resilient and courageous journey

Known for her cheerful and happy-go-lucky demeanour by her fellow patients and nurses, Jamaliah Arrifin, aged 55, is a beloved presence at an NKF dialysis centre in Ang Mo Kio. Her unwavering positive spirit and helpful nature serve as a source of encouragement and motivation for the patients in their dialysis treatments. However, her story unfolds far beyond the cheerful smiles she wears today.

Drawing strength

As the sole breadwinner in her family, everything grounded to a halt when she was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2011. Despite being hard-hit by this news and bearing the responsibility of supporting her mother and two children, Jamaliah mustered her inner strength and grit to push forward, well-aware that her family relied on her for their livelihood. She sought comfort in religion and often prayed during her dialysis sessions. Above all, thoughts of her mother and children provided her with the fortitude to navigate the difficult circumstances she faced.

Adapting to self-care management

When she was first approached by the nurse to enrol in the self-care management programme, Jamaliah was initially hesitant in administering her own dialysis procedure but quickly found herself embracing autonomy over her dialysis regimen by adapting after two weeks of practice under the nurses’ supervision. It dawned upon her that by mastering her own self-care treatment, she gradually stopped seeing dialysis as a chore and more of a mindful routine. This comprised of being much more conscious and diligent in caring for and monitoring her fistula site every morning and night, enabling early detection of any complications from the outset. Empowered by greater control over her treatment, Jamaliah felt more energised and motivated, eager to inspire her fellow patients in the centre to adopt a similar mindset.

Encouraging and uplifting fellow patients

Jamaliah affectionately refers to her friends at the dialysis centre as her “members” and is always on the lookout for their well-being and happiness. This is why she often takes the initiative to come in early on her dialysis days, offering assistance to other patients participating in the self-care management programme by helping them set up their dialysis machines. It is her hope that like her, they would be able to cultivate self-reliance, as she strongly believes that undergoing dialysis is not a permanent stop but a hurdle to overcome.

As she always strives to maintain a positive and less stressful atmosphere at the centre, Jamaliah tends to make attempts in conversing and engaging in light-hearted banter with patients whom she perceives as moody and unhappy, particularly if she notices that they may be experiencing elevated blood pressure. Her humorous and tactful approach are well-received by the other patients, garnering her a wealth of goodwill. Ultimately, her primary goal is to ensure everyone’s happiness and foster a more relaxed environment to ease the pain experienced by her fellow patients.

Self-determination

Jamaliah’s wish for other patients undergoing dialysis is to adopt a positive mindset, prioritise their self-care by being meticulous in the monitoring of their fistula, medication, and food. Additionally, she encourages cooperation with the nurses during their treatment.

“You need to stand on your own first before others can help you. I’ve always believed that if I can do it, you can do it too!”

Jamaliah Arrifin, emphasising the importance of selfdetermination