Lizzie's First Christmas

Dear friends, Lizzie is now 4.5 months old, and has been growing and developing well, despite all that she's gone through. She's reached many milestones which are normal for babies her age, and we thank God for that. Lizzie is learning how to grab toys (her favourites are butterflies and red objects), and especially loves to play on her musical 'piano' gym which hangs over her - she's able to reach out and 'play piano' much to mummy and daddy's amusement. Lizzie's also quite an expressive little girl, she likes to smile, giggle and squeal real loud, and will often demand to be carried. We've also noticed that she's not only a very gentle girl, but also a very happy girl. This is one aspect of her character that Simon and I committed to prayer before and during my pregnancy, and we know that God has answered our prayers with a joyful child :) Recently Simon and my mum-in-law brought Lizzie in for her usual hospital reviews, and they happened to scan her kidneys. We were told that one of her kidneys had calcium deposits or stones. This was cause for concern, as Lizzie is on calcium supplements due to low calcium levels. We were told to return the next day for amore detailed scan of the kidneys, so that night we prayed hard, that God would spare Lizzie the need for any more medical procedures or medications. The next day I brought her in, together with my mum-in-law, they scanned Lizzie again - she cried so hard during the scan, but shewas a good girl and kept still for the doctors. We were so thankful and relieved - for detailed scan showed that the stones had indeed disappeared. We continue to pray and ask for total and complete healing for our Lizzie, and that she will not have to undergo anymore procedures. We know that nothing is impossible with our Lord Jesus Christ, and continue to trust and lean on Him. We thank you all for supporting us and Lizzie through your prayers, encouragement, friendship, and most of all for being a part of our testimony.
God Bless, Elaine

Lizzie's Infant Baptism

Dear friends, Lizzie will be baptized on 17 Dec 06 at Paya Lebar Methodist Church (5 Boundary Road) at the 11.15am service. After months of agonizing over her conditions and fervent prayers, this day will be a great milestone for us as parents, and for many of you who kept us and Lizzie in prayers. Do come and join us if you can.
God bless, Simon

God is still faithful to us

Dear friends, I am sorry for the silence since Lizzie came home with us. Ms.Lizzie is keeping daddy and mommy very busy with dirty diapers and many feeds... much to our pleasure. :) Lizzie went for her reviews with the surgeon and the cardiologist on 10 and 11 August. Both commented that Lizzie is very pink, which is a good sign of healthy blood flow. However, the pulse oximeter showed that Lizzie's O2 level is only around 70. It was recommended that Lizzie stay on the O2 concentrator every night until the level is higher. We brought Lizzie to see the cardiologist again on 23 August and the results are the same - very pinkish but O2 level at 70. The cardiologist, seemingly satisfied with her condition, commented she is healthy and not showing any sign of physical distress. Her O2 level may possibly stay at this level without much change. We can take her off the O2 concentrator at night if we feel comfortable enough. On the same day, we met the genetic paediatrician, Dr. Denise Goh. As Lizzie was having her scan done, Denise did not get to see Lizzie that day. She commented that her (extensive) experience with Digeorge's (DG)Syndrome children shows that most are able to attend normal schools but they are unlikely to be the top achievers. Mild cases of DG will not be obvious to the layman, although she can spot them, after having seen many cases. She agreed to follow up with Lizzie's care on a long term basis to ensure that Lizzie gets her necessary medication, therapy and anything else as necessary. Elaine brought Lizzie to see Denise yesterday (25 Oct). Denise was surprised to see that Lizzie actually looks normal. We are very thankful with that comment, coming from someone who is trained in this field. Denise also checked Lizzie for her reflexes and other symptoms of DG. Denise thinks that Lizzie is healthy apart from her heart defects and calcium deficiency. Yesterday night, we did not put Lizzie on the O2 concentrator at all. We checked her colour every 3 hours and she is as pink as ever. Lizzie slept as soundly as before and did not show any sign of turning blue or had difficulty in breathing. This are exciting moments for us and answers to some of our prayers. We have been praying that God will not only heal Lizzie of her heart defects and chromosome disorder, He will also not allow her physical and mental developments to be affected. We are thankful for this confirmation that Lizzie is not physically affected, apart from her size. From our daily interaction with Lizzie, we can also tell that she is slowly sizing up her daddy, mommy and grandma and know to what extent she can demand things. She even have different sounds and cries to express different emotions. We know that our prayers (and yours) are working and will continue reach the courts of Heaven and the ears of Jesus. We thank you for your prayers. They are most precious to us and Lizzie. We know in our hearts that one day, God will heal Lizzie of all defects and disorders. Thank you. We will keep you posted of her developments.
God bless, Simon & Elaine

Lizzie's homecoming!!!

Dear friends, Lizzie will be discharged directly from the Paeds ICU tomorrow (7Oct). While her O2 level still fluctuates a bit, the docs are confident that it will improve as her lungs develop further. Meanwhile, they will arrange for some O2 concentrator device to come home with Lizzie for use when applicable. I thank you for praying for Lizzie. All your prayers and encouragements touched our hearts and let us know that God is near, even in our darkest days. He sent you to be our comforters and weare most grateful. We saw her surgery wound yesterday. It stretches from under her right arm to mid-way round her back. There are 2 other puncture holes where tubes were inserted. By God's grace, these are healing well. We have a long journey ahead with regards to Lizzie's heart condition, but we will leave it in the hand of God. Elaine and I asked that if you wish to visit, do let us know in advance as Lizzie still need lots of rest. I am sorry if this sounds snobbish. We appreciate your well wishes and care but we just want to be extra careful with Lizzie. Thank you for your kind support during this difficult period. I will continue to update you on Lizzie's development through this website. God bless you, Simon & Elaine

Lizzie back in Paediatric ICU

Dear friends, After 2 nights in the normal ward, Lizzie is transferred back to Paediatric ICU. Lizzie's O2 level has been dropping and went below 60 on several occasions, especially at night. The past 2 nights were a struggle for Elaine and myself as we took turns to watch over with Lizzie. Besides the lack of sleep, observing Lizzie's desperate attempt to breathe, O2 level plunging and several rounds of choking were very despressing for us. After seeing her O2 levels this morning, Prof Quek decided to step her back up to Peads ICU. Lizzie is back in Ward 46A, with a O2 tube into her nostrils to push up her O2 level. While we have the peace of mind to know that she will be better taken care of in PICU, we are also thrown off-track. There goes our hope to bring Lizzie back home this week (which Prof Quek thought was going to happen). We asked for your prayers, that Lizzie will be able to breathe without tubes, and that she will not desaturate or choke easily. Pray that God will heal her so that we can bring our baby home. Thanks for your prayers, Simon & Elaine