At the height of her career as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, she made the decision that would reshape her life: walking away from work to focus on raising her second child, Fahry Al-Hazim Zainul Anuar.
Fahry was born prematurely at just 28 weeks with an incomplete right leg caused by amniotic band syndrome, a rare condition in which fibrous bands in the womb restrict parts of a baby’s development.
In those early days, doctors could offer little certainty. “They told us his chances of survival were only 50-50,” Azlina recalled. “My husband had even started looking for a burial plot.”
But Fahry survived. After spending 30 days in an incubator and 42 days in hospital, he was finally allowed to go home – a moment Azlina and her husband, Zainul Anuar, never took for granted.
From the beginning, Azlina and Zainul made a conscious choice about how they wanted to raise him. Rather than sheltering Fahry from the world, they encouraged him to explore it fully.
Following doctors’ advice, he began wearing a prosthetic leg as early as eight months old so he could adapt naturally as he grew.
Azlina still remembers her husband’s calm approach to parenting their son.
“If Fahry climbed a fence, he wouldn’t stop him,” she said with a smile. “He would just stand behind him to make sure he was safe.”
That quiet encouragement slowly shaped Fahry into someone who never saw himself as limited by his condition.
Now 18, Fahry’s achievements speak for themselves. He recently scored 12As in his SPM examination. When he was 16, he memorised all 30 juzuk of the Quran.
Outside the classroom, he has also represented Malaysia in paralympic rowing and plays amputee football.
Still, Fahry speaks about his accomplishments with humility. “I’ve always wanted to stay healthy because my condition makes movement more difficult. I don’t want to make life harder for myself,” he shared.
Now planning to pursue software engineering, he credits much of who he has become to the way his mum and dad raised him.
“I’m grateful to have parents who cared so much about my future,” he said. “If they had been too protective, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Indeed, the support he receives at home is something he hopes other children with disabilities will also experience.
“To all mothers, no matter your child’s differences, keep praying for the best for them,” he added.
Then, turning to his own mother, his voice softened further. “To my mother, thank you for accepting me as I am. Happy Mother’s Day.”