The first thing she says is: "Sorry, you'll have to speak louder - my hearing has been impaired from chemo."
Hand of friendship outstretched, Ms Tay Shan Min offers a toothy grin shellacked in bright red lipstick. Mascara-coated lashes fan out dramatically against her closely cropped hair.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you
