Grace, acceptance needed to cope with rare disease, says teacher

Schoolteacher Merpati Ahmad, 49, suffers from a rare medical condition called Fabry disease which is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase - A, which breaks down fat in the body.

Without it, fat builds up in the body’s cells, leading to complications like kidney failure, heart failure, and stroke.

This rare disease is more prevalent among males and symptoms include burning pain in the arms and legs, which worsens in hot weather.

Patients also have to deal with poor blood circulation, problems with the gastrointestinal system, and progressive kidney disease that leads to kidney failure and heart enlargement, which can lead to complications like heart failure and stroke.

The journey to a diagnosis took several years for Merpati, who was born in Samarahan, Sarawak and now lives in...