You could say that Kaneswary’s father inspired her to further her nursing studies.

When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, her training as a nurse enabled her to care for him in his last days. Thankful for that, she decided to upgrade her skills, taking a diploma in midwifery nursing, a bachelor of health science (nursing) and a master’s degree in health science management.

Her learning journey, however, was fraught with difficulties. In 1997, just as she received a sponsorship to pursue an advanced diploma, her eldest brother, who was her role model, died in an accident, leaving her devastated. While studying for her masters, her husband suffered a heart attack and was warded in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Despite that, she successfully completed her course this year.

Kaneswary’s never-say-die attitude is a great motivation to the 30 staff that she manages. She said: “Continuous learning can also help you become a better person.”