A baby thought to be the world’s smallest at birth was discharged from the National University Hospital after 13 months of intensive treatment. Baby Yu Xuan was just 212g, the weight of an apple when she was born and measured 24cm in length. She was delivered at just under 25 weeks, far short of the average 40. We spoke to Yu Xuan’s mother, Ms. Felicia Wong about how her stay at Ronald McDonald House helped her cope with the caregiving of Yu Xuan. When asked about how she felt about Yu Xuan’s birth, Ms. Wong said, “It was really a shock to me, as my first born child did not have any irregularities whatsoever.” The mother of two then expressed her gratitude to both NUH and Ronald McDonald House Charities Singapore for allowing her the complimentary use of one of its four bedrooms for seven months from December 2020 to July 2021. “It’s like a hotel, and having food and a quiet place to think really helped me through the entire ordeal at NUH,” said Felicia, who is originally from Malaysia. The couple’s older child is currently in the care of her parents and in-laws back in Malaysia. She was also grateful for having a proper space to eat her meals in peace, especially with the ever-changing dining restrictions imposed during the course of the pandemic.
When Mira Koh Xin Rong was born, her family's journey quickly became one of resilience and hope. Diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, a form of congenital heart disease, Mira underwent a life-saving heart repair surgery on 15 July. Complications during and after the operation meant that what was expected to be a critical procedure turned into a prolonged and uncertain battle – one that kept Mira in the Intensive Care Unit for five months.
After an unexpected asthma attack, Azura found herself undergoing an emergency cesarean section delivery at just 25 weeks and 5 days of pregnancy.
Siti Nur Ain and Suhaimi are parents to cheerful 18-month-old Amira Mikayla.
