Generation Grit: A failing heart could not break her spirit

Diagnosed with a severe and rare heart condition at birth, Ms Boo Kai Ni faced bullying by classmates who did not understand she was ill. But she did not waver in her pursuit of a better future and today wants to be a voice for misunderstood heart patients.

Diagnosed with a severe and rare heart condition at birth, Ms Boo Kai Ni faced bullying by classmates who did not understand she was ill. But she did not waver in her pursuit of a better future.
Due to her severe heart defect, Ms Boo Kai Ni could not physically exert herself as she was easily exhausted and short of breath, with her extremities sometimes turning purple from a lack of oxygen. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID
Cara Wong
Updated
Mar 16, 2020, 02:00 PM
Published
Jun 11, 2019, 07:00 PM
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SINGAPORE - One of the happiest moments of 22-year-old Boo Kai Ni's life came two years ago when she managed to climb the stairs of an overhead bridge for the first time.

She had just recovered from an operation for a severe heart defect, and she had walked to the overhead bridge near the hospital to "test out" her newly mended organ.

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