KUANTAN: Dr Siti Hawa Apandi, the country's first spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patient to complete four levels of higher education at a single university, spent much of her final days resting in bed.
Her mother, Zaidah Tamjis, 64, said Siti Hawa, 37, had been resting more than usual at their home in Taman Seri Mahkota Aman here, instead of following her routine of sitting for long periods while using her laptop.
In August, Siti Hawa was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records for completing her diploma, bachelor's degree, master's degree and PhD at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA).
"Over the past two to three days, she said she was tired and wanted to lie down. She would sit up to have her milk before lying down again about half an hour later.
"When I asked if she wanted to use her laptop, she said no," Zaidah told reporters when met today.
She said her daughter, the third of five siblings, received milk through a feeding tube about 6pm yesterday but refused another serving around 10pm.
"I tried to wake her about 5.30am but she did not respond. I called an ambulance, and the medical team later confirmed her death," she said.
One of Zaidah's most painful memories was when Siti Hawa was admitted to the intensive care unit at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital here last year with a bacterial infection.
"The family could not stay with her, so she was alone. We were only allowed to visit during visiting hours," said Zaidah, who had always stayed by her daughter's side, even moving into a hostel at UMPSA in 2007.
Despite her grief, Zaidah said she was immensely proud of her daughter's academic achievements, which had brought some of the happiest moments of her and her husband's lives.
"I am grateful that my daughter achieved her ambition of excelling in her studies. I accept that God has everything planned for us," she said.
The New Straits Times previously reported that Zaidah had made the hostel at UMPSA's Gambang campus her second home for about a decade after Siti Hawa enrolled in a diploma programme in 2007.
She remained by her daughter's side throughout her degree studies.
During a previous interview, Zaidah said she had never considered giving up, believing her daughter's determination deserved equal strength from a mother's unconditional love.
SMA is a genetic disorder that damages motor neurons in the spinal cord, progressively weakening the muscles they control.
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