83 year old Susan’s story

This is a request for help in order that I may see my husband who has Alzheimer’s, which means his brain is shutting down, and I feel I have not got long before he is lost to me forever.

At 83 years old, I am not mentally strong, or physically for that matter, and to lose that one person out of my life who made me see the flowers and look right up to the top of the trees, and hear him say “good, it’s raining, the plants need a drink”. To see him cup a wasp in his hand and gently take it to the door and set it free.
He lived his life seeing Allah in all that was good.

When I took my shahadah he made no objections and gave me the freedom to practise what I wholeheartedly believe in. For this man to now be taken away from me… what can I do but to accept the qadr of Allah and until that happens, with your help, I can see him, which is such a benefit to both of us.

He is in a nursing home 22 miles away from me and a kind cab driver has been taking me for a year, it is £30 each way, a lot of money, that is no longer available. I have tried to see if the charity car that Social Services suggested would be cheaper, but when my son looked into it there were no savings. To answer but a few questions that I think would be in your head, it is true to say that there are very few facilities where I live and Social services will not contribute to the ones that are here.

Any help you, one and all, could give me, however small, and for whatever time, would be most gratefully received. It’s my turn to make him look to the top of the beautiful trees, it is a wonder my tears have not washed them away. I need, also, to check his needs and make sure he is clean and comfortable. All the things a wife does for her husband and I know Allah is teaching me something.

My husband Andrew, came into my life at a time when I was in need, while I was going through a lot of personal pain and trying to keep it away from my three children. And now I have to lose him, and find a way to go on without the human part of me missing the sound of his laughter, of his voice, which I hardly hear anymore. In my opinion, he is not being well looked after, which is something that is hard for me to understand. Which of course, given my personality, I feel I have to see him so desperately. The last time I went into the lounge area I was so pleased he was there instead of in his room alone. They seemed so happy to tell me he was there. I found his head had dropped down onto his chest, where his chin was on his chest, and he was trying to scratch out the words in a poetry book with a Bourbon biscuit. I tried to get him to stop and say hello to me, but he wouldn’t respond. I wondered if he was angry.

He worked so hard all of his life to care for our daughter and my three other children. He was a good man, but to me he was a wonderful man. However, Alzheimer’s doesn’t much care whose brain it affects. He was very old fashioned when it came to money, he would never really talk about it and I would never ask, or need to. The fact that I have been left penniless (due to his generosity to me, my family, and charities he helped) is really no surprise. But I prayed to avoid this and Allah has given me something that I have to gain from this experience. It will be something great, because Allah, the compassionate, the merciful, will always be just in all the doings of this world.

There is more, but let’s leave the more. Ramadan is here now, and for those who are having difficulties in their life, I will pray for them, as I humbly ask that they will pray for me. I write to ask for help to see Andrew once a week, and in that time I know he will change, just as I will, hopefully I will have grown stronger and the merciful Allah will allow us to rest our hearts in peace and know that he is there.
Your sister,
Susan

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Single mother Maryam’s story

Maryam embraced Islam and sadly soon after fell into a marriage where she became a victim of domestic violence.

The children were taken away from her by social services which led Maryam into a spiral of depression. Alhamdulillah, after effort, hard work and time, her children were returned to her.

After separating from her husband, she was left to fend for herself and her children financially, practically and emotionally. Trying to recover from an abusive marriage, she found it difficult to manage work, children and home with the after effects of a very traumatic period in her life.

She now finds herself trying to stay afloat emotionally and in her deen as well as support children that have been traumatised by the experiences in their early life whilst still working to provide.

Solace wants to give her a second chance at life by supporting the family emotionally and psychologically  as well as provide the means for Maryam to gain new qualifications to provide for her family in the long term.

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Ex-Hindu Jagurti’s story

Let us tell you the story of another ex-Hindu revert sister who needs your help: Sister Jagruti, whose circumstances have been verified by us, is an ex-Hindu revert sister that struggles to keep a roof over her head and food in her mouth. This is what happens when you’re a revert with no permission from the UK government to work or access public funds.

Your relentless efforts, as well as deep comprehension, keep us moving forward with our daily lives, enabling us to focus on getting stronger in our Imaan and learning Islam to the best of our abilities. Being put in touch with sister Urwa was one of the best things that ever happened to me…

Jagruti, is an ex-Hindu revert sister who reverted to Islam in 2010. Jagruti has been in the UK for 23 years. She married a UK resident in 1996. Her ex-husband was imprisoned for a committed crime and due to his absence, he was unable to be present for her UK residency application.

Upon hearing that Jagruti had embraced Islam, he divorced her in 2010 and reported her to the Home Office as an illegal immigrant. Jagruti, then began her journey towards becoming a legal residency. She applied several times. Her first application was refused in 2011, she appealed and that was also refused in 2012. She became completely illegal in 2013. Jagruti, then applied to well known, large Muslim charities for support, but was refused due to having no documents as they were all with the Home Office. She also applied for help at various masajid in and outside of London. They all refused to help her for the same reason. A non-Muslim organisation even advised her to return to India! As an ex-Hindu revert, there is great fear for her life and safety and so this is not an option she could even consider.

Jagruti, contacted Solace for support and we were able to help her with her initial needs to keep a roof over her head and food in her stomach. Solace needs your help to help support Jagruti, and other sisters like her who are unable to work and are awaiting a Home Office decision.

Alhamdulillah, due to the number of years Jagruti has been in the UK, she is now able to apply for legal status on that very basis. May Allah facilitate this for her.

Head back to Launchgood and donate: www.launchgood.com/solaceuk