Mothering beyond blood ties: She’s both Paati (grandma) and Amma (mother) to the children

Madam Aisha Abdullah (centre) and three of her four grandchildren. She stepped up as their main caregiver after her daughter suffered a brain injury. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

SINGAPORE – Madam Aisha Abdullah, 78, had thought that her days of changing diapers and caring for little ones were long behind her.

But in 2018, her daughter Sabura Banu Alla Pichay, then 29, suffered a brain injury that left her in the intensive care unit for two weeks. She still suffers from memory loss and cognitive impairment, and finds it difficult to walk in a straight line.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

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

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.