Francesca Khor: On being a parent of a child with a rare disorder, putting herself out there, and finding a village beyond family

Working Moms Asia

My conversation with today’s guest, Francesca Khor, reminded me to embrace life’s uncertainties and surprises. As General Manager of global advertising agency SalesWorks, she’s progressed with the company for 15 years and counting, and has come to count her coworkers as family as they saw her through milestones like marriage, pregnancy and motherhood. She credits her work family as one of the unwavering pillars in her village, especially during a challenging time when her three-year-old daughter Ellie was diagnosed with a rare disorder Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) at just four months old.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Finding her rhythm at work and at home while caring for a child with a rare disorder
• Feeling lost about the diagnosis and eventually finding an outlet that helps her make sense of the ongoing situation
• Finding her network of support through Rare Disorders Society Singapore (RDSS) and TSC Singapore
• The mental health of caregivers of people with rare disorders, and what we can do to be there for them
• How to communicate something that’s important to you at the workplace
• The discovery that her village extended beyond immediate family
• How self care can take the form of drawing boundaries for herself
• Being a constant work-in-progress, going with the flow, and yet being present in the moment

_
Rare Disorders Society Singapore (RDSS) is currently running its flagship fundraising campaign till 30 April 2023. Carry Hope 2023 empowers rare diseases patients and their families to navigate the challenges of their condition and live a fulfilling life. RDSS’s board committee and management are 100% volunteer-run, and all funds go towards financing various programmes like financial assistance, medical and therapy intervention, and emotional support to its beneficiaries, their caregivers, and their siblings at home. To donate: https://give.asia/campaign/carry-hope-2023#/
_
To learn more about rare disorders, or connect with Francesca:
RDSS charity: https://www.instagram.com/rdss_sg/
Francesca’s main account: https://www.instagram.com/heytwolittlepeas/
TSC Singapore: https://www.instagram.com/tsc_singapore/
_
Working Moms Asia is produced and led by Natalie Goh. To contact us, email [e-mail]
_
Follow us @workingmomsasia on social media for updates