“...Even though she lives in a long house deep in the rural area, she is determined to free herself from leukemia...”
Dora AK Esa
13 years old
It took us 45 minutes driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle to reach Dora AK Esa's house in’
Julau, Sarawak. We were welcomed by Dora's family and the former wakil rakyat.At
the sight of Dora, a 13 year old that was known to be shy, my heart suddenly sank.When’
she was confirmed to be suffering from leukemia, she suddenly changed from a cheerful’
girl to one who is easily depressed. Nevertheless, it did not deter her spirit to fight on.’
Even though she lives in a long house deep in the rural area, she is determined to free
herself from leukemia. This youngest child of three girls receives support from her
equally strong-spirited family. Her father is a farmer who earns RM10 a day while her”
mother is a housewife and they can hardly make ends meet. Yet they were willing to face”
this hardship. Dora meanwhile, follows her treatment without fail even though she has to’
borrow money from her relatives and friends for the journey to the hospital. Thankfully’
Dora is now cured and only needs to go for follow-up treatments. Each trip would cost’
the family RM25 to and fro by river. When asked about school which she had dropped’
out for some time now, she seemed disinterested. In her current situation this is not’
possible, as she would have to live in a hostel. However, she still studies by herself as’
she still hopes to one day to return to school.
