SINGAPORE – Zoe Ng was only one week old when her rapidly growing skin constricted blood flow to the tissue in her hands, causing the tissue to turn necrotic.

Despite losing her hands and living with the rare skin condition harlequin ichthyosis, which causes thick and scaly skin growth, the nine-year-old girl remains positive about her studies at Nan Chiau Primary School and her passion for art.

She makes it a point to complete her homework every day, even though she is easily tired as a result of her condition – significant energy is required to constantly produce new skin cells.

After taking a nap, she would stay up until around 9pm for her studies, using her stumps to hold a pen or pencil.

For her resilience, Zoe received the Perseverance Award on Nov 8 from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the biennial Awwa Community Integration Service Awards, which celebrates the achievements of young people with special needs and the people who support them.

She was among 30 people who were honoured at the event.

Awwa, a social service agency that operates a therapy hub, started its Community Integration Service programme in 1991 to help youth with physical disabilities to be included in mainstream schools and the community.

Zoe likes going to school and has help from an occupational therapist from Awwa to integrate into the classroom setting.

Neither does she let her condition stop her from pursuing things she enjoys, such as playing football with her two older siblings, a 15-year-old sister and a 13-year-old brother.

Zoe’s father, secondary school teacher Samuel Ng, constantly reminds her to stay optimistic, and to treat hurtful comments or unwanted stares as actions that come from a place of ignorance and pure curiosity.

A single parent who looks after his three children with the help of his mother, Mr Ng, 46, was also honoured at the Awwa ceremony, receiving the Outstanding Caregiver Award.