“She has leukemia” – Indonesian Dad Skips Meal for 4 Days to Save up For Her Daughter’s Medical Fee

A father may be an alpha figure who rarely says “I love you”, but action speaks louder than words. A father in Indonesia recently soldiered through hunger and skipped meals for 4 days as an act of love.

In a TikTok post by @donnyrapu, the man was seen accompanying his daughter for a meal at a fast food restaurant. He patiently helped his daughter with the meal while the man himself did not eat anything.

The father, who introduced himself as Zainuddin, said that he was saving up for his daughter, Tara.

He needed the money to pay for his daughter’s medical fee, who is suffering from Leukemia. 

Donny, the man who interviewed Zainuddin bought him some food from the restaurant and gave him some extra cash to keep for rainy days, which brought Zainudin to tears.

Zainuddin works as a freelance driver and according to him, he can make only around IDR 50,000 (approximately RM15) on a good day. The low income explains why Zainuddin saw no choice but to stay hungry for days and made sure Tara was well-fed.

When asked why didn’t he seek out and ask for help from friends and relatives, the father said he didn’t want to trouble anyone.

“I’m not sure if I can return the money. I bought a pack of instant noodles for Tara. I’d rather work than go around telling everyone about Tara’s illness,” Zainuddin explained.

Donny also tried asking how Tara was feeling, and she showed Donny which part of her body often feels painful. As the trio was leaving the restaurant, Zainuddin once again thanked him for the cash aid.

Acts of service are probably the universal love language of all fathers around the world. Zainuddin’s decision to brace through hunger and his tears say a thousand things about his love for Tara.

Also read: “I wish you could see me now” – M’sian ‘Celebrates’ 20th Birthday With Deceased Father at His Grave