A premature baby in Singapore born at only 24 weeks in gestation was finally discharged after spending five months in the hospital. She weighed only 670g when she was born and was the size of a human palm.
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- Premature baby born at 24 weeks placed in incubator for almost 5 months
According to the Facebook post by the One Hope Charity & Welfare back on 28 February, the premature baby girl born at 24 weeks needed to be incubated for 160 days.
This left her parents with a hefty medical bill of RM1.2 million.
Premature baby born at 24 weeks placed in incubator for almost 5 months
Image source: Facebook / One Hope Charity & Welfare
The parents of baby Eloise Ang work in Singapore and were ready to return to Malaysia for her birth until she was suddenly ready to come out at only 24 weeks. She was born prematurely on 22 February, at the gestational age of just six months.
“Young little Eloise came to this world in less than 28 weeks, which makes her a “micro preemie”.
Her body only weighs 670 grams and has a body size of an adult-sized hand palm. Her skin was nearly transparent and her bloodstream can be seen with the naked eye,” writes One Hope Charity & Welfare.
The doctors immediately placed her in NICU for incubation where she had to be monitored constantly.
As Eloise was born a premature baby at just 24 weeks, many of her organs haven’t fully developed yet including her lungs and brain. While the appearance of her body is fully developed, the baby girl could not breathe on her own and relied on a breathing aid.
She was to be incubated for around 160 days and was advised not to leave the incubator on her expected date of delivery and until her condition becomes stable.
Parents successfully raise funds for her medical bills within 29 hours
Image source: Facebook / One Hope Charity & Welfare
Ang Theam Seah and Koh Pei Ying, parents of the premature baby born at 24 weeks, could only bear around RM50,000 worth of the total medical expenses of their daughter, which was approximately RM1.25 million. This medical fee was estimated to be around 400,000 Singapore Dollars and is too much for the couple to afford.
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Seeking help from One Hope Charity, they launched a fundraiser for the rest of their daughter’s medical expenses. With their fundraiser garnering attention from the public, donations were made not only in Singapore but from other countries as well.
Over only 29 hours, the couple managed to achieve their fundraising goal of RM1.2 million for their palm-sized baby daughter.
To show their gratitude to those who helped them from Singapore, Malaysia, United States, Taiwan, Brunei and many more, the parents of Eloise posted a video on One Hope Charity’s Facebook page.
“We want to thank all of you kind-hearted donors for creating such a miracle. Let us all give our blessings to little Eloise in hopes she grow healthy and strong,” read the post.
The family of three is now planning their return to Malaysia after all procedures are complete.
Being a parent of a premature baby
According to the Ministry of Health, there are about 3,500 out of 39,615 babies born prematurely in Singapore back in 2017. This is about 1 in 11 premature babies. There is even an estimated 15 million babies who were born prematurely all around the world.
While it’s nobody’s fault, we know how difficult it can be for parents to cope with having a premature baby. While there are many instances of premature births, it can still be an overwhelming experience for anyone especially if it’s your first child.
If you or know someone who has given birth prematurely, here’s how you can cope with whatever emotion your feeling right now:
1. Try not to suppress whatever your feeling.
While it may be hard to openly talk about the difficult position you’re in, it won’t help to just bottle everything up and suffer on your own. You can cry or scream as much as you want if your emotions are just to much.
2. Do not hesitate to look for support from those around you.
When given the chance, reach out to your partner or a loved one who you know would lend an ear.
3. Seek professional help if needed.
You can consider arranging an appointment with a counsellor or a psychologist if you feel it necessary. There are also support groups for families with premature babies that can help.
4. Take every chance to be with your baby.
Spend as much time with your baby as much allowed. Seeing your little fighting strong could also help lighten the weight on your chest.
5. Remember that you’re not alone.
It’s also important to check on your partner who is probably struggling with the same feelings as well. There is no better time than now to be there for each other and your baby.
Lead image source from Facebook / One Hope Charity & Welfare.