I moved abroad to pursue my dream job. My mom's health scare brought me home.

Viaano Spruyt gave up the life he was building in Australia to return to Singapore after his mother's health scare. Provided by Viaano Spruyt.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Viaano Spruyt, 29, founder of Huddle, an AI-powered social network for fandoms. He is based in Singapore. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I first became a caregiver when I was a teenager.

My dad had an incurable respiratory disease, and he was on an oxygen tank every day. He would get breathless after walking for just a few minutes and needed help with day-to-day living.

Back then, my mom was the sole breadwinner for the family, and my sister was too young to grasp what was going on.

Spruyt was the primary caregiver for his father when he was ill. Provided by Viaano Spruyt.

As the oldest child and only son, I took responsibility for his daily care.…