Madam Annette Chua, was one of five to receive the Exemplary Caregiver’s Award from Club Rainbow for going “over and beyond her duty as an aunt”.
On top of taking care of her own son with suspected autism, she is also the primary caregiver for her two autistic nephews as their parents have mental illnesses and marital problems.
Madam Chua quit her job when pregnant with her son as she had some health problems then and also wanted to spend more time taking care of her nephews. When her son was suspected of having autism, it hit her hard. She also struggled with anxiety and depression.
It was only last year that she decided to focus more on the children, instead of helping her brother and sister-in-law with their marital problems. She also said turning to religion last year helped her.
In April, she started a support group on Facebook for parents of children with special needs.
Madam Chua and her husband are considering applying for legal guardianship of her nephews.
She has asked herself whether she has given her son the same attention as her nephews, but she tries to “balance it out“. At first, she was worried about whether her son and nephews would get along.
“But my worries (were) unfounded. They get along very well and bond like real siblings, and that puts my heart at peace.” she said.
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Source: The Straits Times, 4 September 2017