Jana Armstrong and her sister made a pact to care for each other’s children should the worst happen. Then it did

Even as a child, Jana Armstrong was a maternal figure in her family. Photograph: supplied

Sisters Jana Armstrong and Faith Isaacs were supposed to raise their children together. But just a few weeks ago, in the shock of grief, the young mothers made a pact: if one should die before her time, the other would raise her sister’s son.

“Just because Jana and I are quite well aware of how unexpected life can be,” Faith says. “And how short life can be.”