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ST Life After series

Life After... finding out her father was hanged for drug trafficking when she was two

ST20251201_202571500387/mladeline/Brian Teo/Koh Ming Lun/Profile of Ms Adeline Wong, 48, founder of Human-Animal Bond in Ministry (HIM), pictured with her nine-year-old adopted dog, Chloe, at Telok Blangah Crescent on Dec 1, 2025. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO

Life After... multiple myeloma: Pastor finds purpose after getting diagnosed with cancer in his 40s

azmyeloma/ST20251009_202575200218/Ng Sor Luan/Pastor David Ong, 65, was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2004 at the age of 44 and suffered a relapse only 20 years later.

Life After... a journey of single parenting, building a bling empire – she now gives back to society

After having raised about $1m for Dementia Singapore, entrepreneur Esther Ho is now focusing on youth mental health.

Life After... getting a transplant: He lived with a mechanical heart pump for more than 9 years

Life After... drug addiction: Husband and wife duo inspire others to kick the habit

Former drug abusers Mohammad Hairi and his wife Nur Azlinda Zulkifli are now working to help other addicts from making the same mistakes they made.

Life After... blazing biomedical research trail in S’pore: Renowned scientist breaks new ground at 59

In 2023, Professor Jackie Ying moved to Saudi Arabia to help further the country's biomedical research potential.

Life After... being homeless and jailed 7 times: Social worker now helps others break free from crime

Mr Rizwan Habib, who stole as a child to feed his mother’s drug habit, says it felt “surreal” moving into his first home in 2024.

Life After... a decade of cyanide fishing in Bali: Reef guardian recalls his pivot from poison

Life After... a near-death experience: Adrenaline junkie completes triathlon months after a coma

Urban farming educator Shane Ang was involved in a sledding accident in the Swiss Alps in 2022 that left him barely able to stand supported.

Life After... a decade behind bars: A lawyer and proud father after struggle with drugs

Profile photo taken on June 25 , 2024 of former serial-offender Darren Tan: He spent a decade in jail but has since made good, very good. Accepted into law school while still in prison, he was called to the bar a decade ago and has now climbed the corporate ranks to become deputy managing director of Invictus Law Corporation. But his crowning achievement, to the former drug addict who never felt worthy of love, has been getting married and having two girls of his own. Profile piece for first part of the "Life After" series, which looks at how people pick up the pieces after a major set back, or reinvent themselves after years in another role.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.