How a Sarawakian girl with Down syndrome became a bocce gold medalist

Helwinnie has come a long way, and Helen could not have been prouder of her only daughter's achievements. Photos: Helen Jau

Twenty-four years ago, Helwinnie Audrey Edwin was born with a congenital heart defect and diagnosed with Down syndrome. She had a small hole in her heart, and her mother Helen Jau worried about what her daughter’s life would be like.

“My biggest concern was, what if I passed away before her? Who would take care of her?” says Jau. “When she was an infant, I made it my priority to prepare her to face her future. That meant sending her for physiotherapy sessions and various exercise programmes to improve her physical strength. I also enrolled her in kindergarten, government school and vocational training to equip her with more life skills.