s14n017 ‘Mom leaves parting to sons -Naton |The Star Online apt : tim te Nation coronene noir Mom leaves parting gift to sons Latest News KUALA LUMPUR: A mother dying from a rare disease decided to write her ‘memoirs so that her sons will have something to remember her by. “This book is the legacy | will leave behind in the hope that | will be remembered by ‘the people | touched, especially my sons” wrote Azlena Abdul Hamid in The Shadow of Me, ‘Azlena died in her sleep aged 59 in the early morning of Sept 7 last year, a week after she finished writing the book, Released posthumously last week, The Shadow of Me tells the story of Azlena, her family, and her battle with the disease, ataxia, a disorder that results in the loss of ‘motor functions, Ataxia is a neurological disease caused by damage to the nervous system, such. as the cerebellum, resulting in the lack of voluntary coordination of muscle Zahid wants Besufort Umno leaders tobe united Red tape and taxes put brakes on Make in Inia push South Korean, U.S. ational securty chiefs speak fon North Korea Cops isentily suspects in rbbery-currape case In Bandar kinrara 26 THESTAR ONLINE ahet if Stay update diy with our FREE emit F newsletter, J youremailaddress Sign Ur lesing ent Sgn patna erst Most Viewed in News Soclalwotker wha was sold toa brothel hp ww thestar.com mylnewsinaton 2017/05 4/mom-leaves-partng.af-o-sors-womar-withrare-disease-frished-memots-one-wook-bufre-she-ciod! 5s14n017 Writing as a woman, a mother and a daughter, Azlena‘s words mirrored her journey, sometimes frustrating, sometimes filled with regret, but mostly, filled with happiness and love On her disease, with which she was one of the only two people in Malaysia who have been diagnosed, Azlena reflected how it showed her the different side of her two sons, Azzedin and Aris Rusland. Precious moments: Alen wth famllymembars tthe hosp "Getting ataxia has opened my eyes to many things. For one, | got to see the love and care that my sons have for me. “Ittook me some time to realise this because I have always been giving the love and care, being the mother and breadwinner and all” she wrote, Azzedin, 32, felt that it was his mother’s last gift to those she loved "She told us that she was writing a book, and we felt relieved because she would have something to do with her time, "When she wrote her book, we felt that it made us understand her more,’ he told The Star, adding that he and Aris helped with the proofreading, Both Azzedin and Aris, 28, were glad that they were able to spend valuable time with Azlena before her death "She made a conscious effort to be involved with us. She tried, She liked to go for drives in the middle of the night. Randomly, we would take her around Kuala ‘Mom leaves parting to sons -Naton |The Star Online LUPOATED EVERY S MINUTES Police raid CVL office, seize items Durian orchard tours snapped up ‘vertumed trailer causes eighthour Jam along NSE Moms at shelter home yearn to on Mother’ Day kid at east Malaysia als hit by Wannacryransomware Wanda interested in Bandar Malay Speakers shoudnt take ses ope probing obbenscumrape case Trending in Food Memories of our mothers kitchens (th ecipes) AL Aiea enjy a culinary snapshot ‘fbeautiul Australi Perfect enack Ong ° fe food onthe Does Hong Kong havea solution for handling food waste Ponewety Star2t ‘Trending in Properties ‘A Smareer way to upgrade home secunty Git power at property fle Whether To Purchase Freehold of Leasehold StarPropertyIV (Video): Of Law and Tenancy ‘he evluton of retal businesses ‘THE STAR ONLINE daly with our FREE email apt. ot, Stay up newsletter. your email address an lesing ent Sgn patna erst hp ww thestar.com mylnewsaton 2017/05 4/mom-leaves-partng.af-o-sors-womar-withrare-disease-frished-memots-one-wook-bufre-she-ciod! 215“| dont think her illness robbed her (time) as our mother. | think it made us closer to her’ added Aris The brothers said it was difficult at times to see Azlena struggling with her disease, “Going from someone who jogged on the treadmill regularly and driving and having to use a walker and ending up in a wheelchair, it was hard for all of us. But we tried to not let it show" said Azzedin. The only word Azzedin could use to describe his mother was “beautiful” “To me, she was just absolutely beautiful’ he said "Irreplaceable? said the younger brother. "I know everyone says that about their mother, but for my late mother, being a career woman, then going through a divorce in her late 40s, becoming a single parent, supporting us through our degrees overseas, it takes a lot out of a person. "So, she was irreplaceable to us, added Aris, ‘The Shadow of Me was launched on May 4 by Perak princess Raja Datuk Seri Eleena Sultan Azlan Shah, who said that she felt connected to the late Azlena after reading the book “Icould relate to her as a working mother, her dedication to family and friends, her desire to excel in a man's world, striving to balance between family and career, her frustrations and triumphs, her strengths and weaknesses,” said the princess in her speech, adding that the memoir was a “tremendous” gift to everyone. For Azzedin and Aris, one of Azlena’s last wishes was recorded in the memoir. "My greatest wish is for them to be happy and that they always know how much love I have for them,” she wrote. Related stories: Moms at shelter home yearn to see kids at least on Mother's Day Mom proves that she's a real hero Rejoicing with a mini version of herself Housewife puts dark days behind to motivate others Government finalising plans to improve childcare services Honouring the woman who loves us unconditionally TAGS / KEYWORDS: raters day, alenahamed Related Stories Double joy for single mother ‘Mom leaves parting to sons -Naton |The Star Online LUPOATED EVERY S MINUTES Hartanah WIA! mi i yi eee TI gam) 2b }e esta mune Stay updated daly wth our FREE email newsletter. youremailaddress Sign Ur lesing ent Sgn patna erst hp hwwr thestar.com mylnewsiaton 2017/05 4/mom-leaves-parting.f-o-sors-womar-withrare-disease-frished-memots-one-wook-bufre-she-ciod! 95"Mom leaves parting gio sons - Nation |The Star Onine More LUPOATED EVERY S MINUTES Mom proves that she's arealhero me Housewife puts dark days behind to motivate others JRE Moms at shelter home yeam to see kics at leat on Mother's Oay ; Rejecing with 2 mini version of herself You May Be Interested Rejoleing with arminiversion of DoubleJoy for single mather Mems.a shelter home yearn to hersel see ids at easton Mathers Day Wanda interested in Bandar Police ald CYL offic, eelze Seven reagonsto get an iPhone Malaysia Items how Others Also Read Beverage fm serves huge —‘Dgablag butmorethan able Check ou Sunga! las Valley ry helping of hes fan ume of Hope 2p ip THESTAR OLE Stay up newsletter. daly with our FREE email your email address an lesing ent Sgn Upton Ni erst hip hewr thestar.com mylnewsraton 201705) 4/mom-leaves-partng.f-o-sors-womar-withrare-disease-frised-momors-one-wook-bofre-she-cd! 45,‘Mom leaves parting to sons -Naton |The Star Online LUPOATED EVERY S MINUTES 0 Opprunie casts ‘Say pled win our REE eral nowslte rae Proswa me " at *, et ‘THE STAR ONLINE Stay updated daly wth our FREE email newsletter. youremail address Sign Up lesing ent Sgn patna erst hip hwwr thestar.com mylnewsaton 201705 4/mom-leaves-partng-f-o-sors-womar-withrare-disease-rished-momors-one-wook-bofre-she- cd! 55,