| Here lies a girl who came from an orphanage in Shanghai 50 years ago.
She arrived in Singapore at the age of 11, speaking only Shanghainese and owning scarcely more than the clothes on her back. But she rose far above her humble beginnings to run a successful architectural practice, and to eventually play the role of the First Lady of Singapore. But the route from the orphanage to the Istana was not all-smooth sailing. While in the orphanage, she was struck by rheumatic fever. But she was then too young to realise the gravity of her illness. One of her heart valves was permanently damaged as a result. Doctors who examined her while she was in school in Singapore discovered it, and exempted her from all school sporting activities. |
 |
 |