A radiant smile of happiness graced Yubita Hida Aprilia (19), an Indonesian Language student at the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences.
Despite the economic and physical limitations, she felt grateful to be surrounded by kind-hearted people who helped her sincerely.
One help comes from the Director of Traffic of Yogyakarta Special Region Police, Commissioner Alfian Nurrizal, who gave Yubita a prosthetic leg. This brings immense happiness to Yubita.
It has been seven years since September 15, 2017, when she had to accept the amputation of her right leg due to a bone tumor at Dr. Soeharso Orthopedic Hospital in Solo.
She decided to prevent the tumor from spreading further to other parts of her body. At that time, the tumor had affected her foot and calf.
Yubita suffered from a bone tumor from elementary school to junior high school. During that time, she had to rely on crutches for mobility. After the amputation, she used a prosthetic leg provided by the hospital.
“After five years, it was time to replace the prosthetic leg. I should’ve gone to the hospital in Solo for measurements and such. However, I couldn’t do that because my father passed away then,” said Yubita.
Consequently, she used a prosthetic leg obtained from a local prosthetic crafter. She purchased it with her own money. Her current prosthetic leg is different from the previous one, with a more human-like appearance resembling a natural leg.
“It’s indeed more comfortable to use the hospital-provided one. The current one’s stability is somewhat lacking; it sometimes slips,” Yubita explained.
She felt incredibly grateful when she learned she would receive a new prosthetic leg with a more human-like design similar to the one she had used. She never expected to receive a new prosthetic leg aid.
When Commissioner Alfian Nurrizal asked her what she needed, she seemed momentarily stunned, as if she couldn’t believe this moment was happening. Confidently, she answered that she only needed a new prosthetic leg.
“I just need a prosthetic leg because UGM has provided facilities like a laptop and a bicycle for my academic needs,” she said, expressing her gratitude to the police officer for the offer.
The Director of Traffic of Yogyakarta Special Region Police visited Yubita on Thursday (August 24) at the UGM Public Relations and Protocol Office. He shared that he learned about Yubita’s story from social media and was moved to offer assistance.
“After reading Yubita’s story on social media, I saw her extraordinary determination to enter UGM. Therefore, I tried to offer help, and hopefully, with the new prosthetic leg aid, she can walk well and pursue her aspirations,” said the alumnus of the UGM Master in Law.
The Head of the UGM Integrated Health Services Bureau, Dr. Andreasta Meliala, MD, expressed gratitude for the support provided to Yubita. She hopes Commissioner Alfian Nurrizal’s action will inspire others to engage in social and humanitarian activities.
Author: Ika