Dearest Skyler,
This morning, we read in the Straits Times about a baby who is ill with a genetic disorder – “Maple Syrup Urine Disorder”. Baby Sage, born last Christmas, is only 3 days older than you. Seeing his picture in the papers, with tubes sticking out of him, made us feel so sad.
Two evenings after your birth last year, a pediatrician came into our room and asked if you could be part of a medical survey. She explained to us that this test, using “tandem mass spectrometry”, was already a regular screening test done in the US for newborns, and that Singapore would begin testing all newborns for genetic disorders using this test from 2006 onwards. If we allowed you to be part of the survey, they would need a few drops of your blood, and the results from your screening test would help them determine what the normal range of readings ought to be.
We were hesitant about allowing you to have this test initially, but after assurances from the doctor that the test was safe and that it was going to be implemented in Singapore in 2006, we agreed to let you participate in this medical survey. After reading about Baby Sage in today’s papers, we’re glad we let you have this test. You were 1 of about 3000 newborns who took part in this survey so that our doctors can determine what the normal range of different types of proteins ought to be in the blood of newborn babies. With these results, doctors would be able to better screen newborns for genetic disorders come September this year, and babies like Baby Sage would have a better chance of survival and recovery.
Skyler, since you came into our lives, Papa and I have had a heightened sensitivity to anything concerning newborns, babies and children in general. Of course, we had always been saddened by stories of poor children all over the world. Now, however, it really hits home. When I hold you in my arms and you look at me and study my features closely, my heart aches for the many babies who, for one reason or another, do not have someone to hold them, feed them, clothe them and love them. It has become incomprehensible why people would abandon their babies after birth, and the thought of the many children in Third World countries who have to fend for themselves is too much to bear.
You have given us new understanding of just how precious a newborn baby is, Skyler. Your small and delicate frame cries out for all the love and attention we can give you, yet God created you strong and hardy enough to survive all our bungling blunders as first-time parents. The warmth of your body when we hold you in our arms gives us an incredibly warm fuzzy feeling in our hearts that we never knew we could have before.
You don’t know it now, Skyler, but you’re a miracle and a joy to have, a true blessing and gift from God. When you’re a little older, we shall pray together for all the little children in the world who, for reasons too sad to dwell upon, do not have papas and mamas to love them, hold them and kiss them. For now, though, we shall cherish every moment you look us in the eyes, smile and coo so sweetly our hearts melt.
We love you, our Darling Skyler, more than you know now and much more than you can ever imagine.
Papa and Mama
This morning, we read in the Straits Times about a baby who is ill with a genetic disorder – “Maple Syrup Urine Disorder”. Baby Sage, born last Christmas, is only 3 days older than you. Seeing his picture in the papers, with tubes sticking out of him, made us feel so sad.
Two evenings after your birth last year, a pediatrician came into our room and asked if you could be part of a medical survey. She explained to us that this test, using “tandem mass spectrometry”, was already a regular screening test done in the US for newborns, and that Singapore would begin testing all newborns for genetic disorders using this test from 2006 onwards. If we allowed you to be part of the survey, they would need a few drops of your blood, and the results from your screening test would help them determine what the normal range of readings ought to be.
We were hesitant about allowing you to have this test initially, but after assurances from the doctor that the test was safe and that it was going to be implemented in Singapore in 2006, we agreed to let you participate in this medical survey. After reading about Baby Sage in today’s papers, we’re glad we let you have this test. You were 1 of about 3000 newborns who took part in this survey so that our doctors can determine what the normal range of different types of proteins ought to be in the blood of newborn babies. With these results, doctors would be able to better screen newborns for genetic disorders come September this year, and babies like Baby Sage would have a better chance of survival and recovery.
Skyler, since you came into our lives, Papa and I have had a heightened sensitivity to anything concerning newborns, babies and children in general. Of course, we had always been saddened by stories of poor children all over the world. Now, however, it really hits home. When I hold you in my arms and you look at me and study my features closely, my heart aches for the many babies who, for one reason or another, do not have someone to hold them, feed them, clothe them and love them. It has become incomprehensible why people would abandon their babies after birth, and the thought of the many children in Third World countries who have to fend for themselves is too much to bear.
You have given us new understanding of just how precious a newborn baby is, Skyler. Your small and delicate frame cries out for all the love and attention we can give you, yet God created you strong and hardy enough to survive all our bungling blunders as first-time parents. The warmth of your body when we hold you in our arms gives us an incredibly warm fuzzy feeling in our hearts that we never knew we could have before.
You don’t know it now, Skyler, but you’re a miracle and a joy to have, a true blessing and gift from God. When you’re a little older, we shall pray together for all the little children in the world who, for reasons too sad to dwell upon, do not have papas and mamas to love them, hold them and kiss them. For now, though, we shall cherish every moment you look us in the eyes, smile and coo so sweetly our hearts melt.
We love you, our Darling Skyler, more than you know now and much more than you can ever imagine.
Papa and Mama
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