THE ORCHID GARDEN

A special space for tributes to the most important women in our lives.
Mothers, grandmothers, nannies, teachers, friends – whoever they are, these are the women who inspire and guide us.
Also listed in The Orchid Garden are the women who have been honoured by organisations and publications in annual awards.

Aishah Bte Samad

The Great Women Of Our Time Awards alumni
Para-Athlete

This 2003 Southeast Asian Games bronze medallist may have lost her arms and legs – but she will not allow herself to lose her passion for life.

Aishah caught a severe bacterial infection when she travelled to China in 2012, which led to gangrene, and the eventual amputation of her four limbs. She admits that she entertained initial thoughts of suicide, but did not want to let her loved ones down. The divorced mother-of-two who had single-handed raised her two sons, says, “I got ‘shot’ with this condition, but I’ll not settle with what I have been ‘given’. Instead, I want to maximise the potential of what life has thrown me.”

Getting herself fitted with bionic arms and legs has allowed this ex-SEA Games markswoman to resume training. This September, Aishah participated in the 2015 International Paralympic Council Shooting World Cup in Sydney. And come November, she will travel to the US to compete. The never-say-die fighter has also set her sights on the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.

“Winning a Great Women of Our Time award helped garner more recognition, and opened the door to many invitations to give talks, and share my experience with others,” says Aishah, who won the Great Women Of Our Time Awards, Health, Sports & Wellness category in 2013. Shortly before she left for Sydney, the mother of two dropped in on a technician who lost all four limbs after battling food poisoning. Aishah says, “We both had to amputate the same limbs due to a bacterial infection and we both have two children to care for. I understand what he’s going through and that’s why I want to show him that he will be able to pull through this.”

Official website

Aishah Bte Samad

The Great Women Of Our Time Awards alumni
Para-Athlete


This 2003 Southeast Asian Games bronze medallist may have lost her arms and legs – but she will not allow herself to lose her passion for life.

Aishah caught a severe bacterial infection when she travelled to China in 2012, which led to gangrene, and the eventual amputation of her four limbs. She admits that she entertained initial thoughts of suicide, but did not want to let her loved ones down. The divorced mother-of-two who had single-handed raised her two sons, says, “I got ‘shot’ with this condition, but I’ll not settle with what I have been ‘given’. Instead, I want to maximise the potential of what life has thrown me.”

Getting herself fitted with bionic arms and legs has allowed this ex-SEA Games markswoman to resume training. This September, Aishah participated in the 2015 International Paralympic Council Shooting World Cup in Sydney. And come November, she will travel to the US to compete. The never-say-die fighter has also set her sights on the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.

“Winning a Great Women of Our Time award helped garner more recognition, and opened the door to many invitations to give talks, and share my experience with others,” says Aishah, who won the Great Women Of Our Time Awards, Health, Sports & Wellness category in 2013. Shortly before she left for Sydney, the mother of two dropped in on a technician who lost all four limbs after battling food poisoning. Aishah says, “We both had to amputate the same limbs due to a bacterial infection and we both have two children to care for. I understand what he’s going through and that’s why I want to show him that he will be able to pull through this.”

Official website

Profile last updated: 2nd March 2018