LIVE LIFE YOUR WAY
Despite setbacks and challenges, these women continued to ght, found the strength to move on, pursue their dreams, and live life to the fullest.
Life is full of twists and turns – some are expected, but many are not. Our health, living situation and job circumstances can change for the worst at the drop of a hat. And if we’re not prepared for the upheaval these changes can bring, we may nd ourselves stuck, not just emotionally but also nancially.
Women today are empowered with more options to deal with setbacks compared to the past. Having the right insurance and protection can provide essential support while we cope with the challenges. Be inspired by these two women as they chart their own path.
MELISSA YAMBAO, 34 Finance executive/breast cancer survivor
When Melissa found out she had breast cancer, she was devastated. She knew she had to undergo hormone therapy, but she did not think about freezing her eggs – until her doctor suggested it. Since she planned to have children in the future, and was aware that hormone therapy may decrease her fertility, she decided to freeze her eggs to protect them from the damaging effects of the treatment.
“It’s a form of insurance – to have the option of starting a family,” says Melissa. “And I feel blessed to have the exibility to choose my doctor and treatment. If every woman has that, it would be awesome. Insurance should not just help you deal with the nancial stress and nd the appropriate treatment, but support your dreams and aspirations, too.”
She feels she has emerged more resilient after this curve ball. She advises other women to do the same – never stop asking questions, evaluate your options, and have the resilience to continue to ght for who you are. “I’m very happy there’s nally an insurance policy out there that provides a payout for egg freezing, and I’m sure a lot of women will benet from it,” she says.
FARZANA ABDUL RAZAK, 35 Stay-at-home mum of three/plane crash survivor
Surviving a plane crash is a distressing, life-changing event, and it was exactly this that turned Farzana’s world upside-down. She was only 18 years old, and four months into her job as an air stewardess, when the plane she was on crashed. Farzana suffered severe burns and experienced depression as a result of posttraumatic stress disorder.
The accident left a deep, emotional impact on her, and she sought help through psychological counselling and psychiatric treatments. The process was long and slow, but therapy has helped overcome the trauma. “I realised that it is helpful to have someone to talk to and who listens to whatever worries you have. I would encourage people to get help if you feel upset or depressed, even if you have not suffered any accident,” she says. It has taught her to be more adaptable, and to see the best in whatever situation she faces, even if it is not positive.
Reecting on modern women of today, she believes that they now have more choices and freedom to live the life they want. “It’s quite liberating but you have to live with the consequences.” She feels lucky to have insurance when she did, and to her, the benets of having an insurance policy from a young age are clear. “You never know when an accident will happen or when your health will be affected. So it’s better to be safe than sorry.”