She says: “Jesus at the Center of It All”

The first night I spent in KKH, a song came to my heart. A worship song that we often sing in our beloved church, City Harvest. Here’s the lyrics:

Jesus at the center of it all
Jesus at the center of it all
From beginning to the end, it will always be
It’s always been You Jesus, Jesus

Nothing else matters, nothing in this world will do
Jesus You’re the center, everything revolves around You
Jesus You (at the center of it all)

Jesus be the center of my life
Jesus be the center of my life
From beginning to the end, it will always be
It’s always been You Jesus, Jesus

From my heart to the heavens, Jesus be the center
It’s all about You, yes it’s all about You

Jesus be the center of Your church
Jesus be the center of Your church
And every knee will bow
And every tongue shall confess You Jesus, Jesus

Originally sang by Israel Houghton, this song always bring me to tears as I was reminded once again that Jesus is the center of everything in my life and nothing else matters. This song helps me to put things into perspective and not fall into depression.

That night I decided that if God allows me to go through this hardship, He will see me through it.
I strengthened myself in the Lord, just like David in the bible. It’s going to be a rough journey..

The doctors gave us the estimated delivery date in week 34, meaning 4 weeks to spend in hospital. It wasn’t good news for us. I was really troubled by that ultimatum and determined to do better so we can be monitored as an outpatient.

Our decision to go to KKH was timely and served us really well. Not only is KKH the most advanced in high risk pregnancy management and government subsidized, but the nurses are great and helpful. I have high regards on their efficiency in all the test and services. As an Indonesian, whose public health sector is seriously questionable and private sector, mostly, is out for your money, is an eye opener experience to have high quality health services with subsidize rate. They even offer to downgrade the baby’s charges so the parents doesn’t have to worry about the baby’s bill, which can be frightening.

Here’s the link of the song that I always watch.. even Savannah will react in my tummy everytime I play the song.

Even right this moment as I am typing these words, we are still struggling because I still have problems with my health due to severity of the Pre Eclampsia and baby Savannah still in Step Down NICU. But My heart just melts as I sing these words. Jesus, you have seen the ending of this turmoil and You are good.
I surrender, God.

She Says: Pre-Eclampsia that Changed Everything

In a single day, my pregnancy life was turned upside down.. I tried to recall my experience on that day:

My 30th week is finally here and I was so excited to see my gynae for the usual check-up. I always look forward to my gynae appointment because I get a peek of the little creature inside my tummy through the ultrasound.

The usual routine check seems so normal, until I noticed my urine test flashes an unusual color according to the chart. From then, my gynea start to notice rising blood pressure and the protein in the urine. The ultrasound that she did shows that the baby is on the small side. My water retention seems to be worsened as well. Everything points to a condition in pregnancy called Pre-Eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some pregnant women usually during the second half of pregnancy (from around 20 weeks onward)
Women with pre-eclampsia have high blood pressure, fluid retention (oedema) and protein in the urine (proteinuria). If it’s not treated, it can lead to serious complications.
In the unborn baby, pre-eclampsia can cause growth problems.
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Although the exact cause of pre-eclampsia is not known, it is thought to occur when there is a problem with the placenta (the organ that links the baby’s blood supply to the mother’s).
Pregnant women with pre-eclampsia may not realise they have it. Pre-eclampsia is usually diagnosed during routine antenatal appointments.
Mild pre-eclampsia can be monitored with blood pressure and urine tests at regular antenatal appointments and usually disappears soon after the birth. Severe pre-eclampsia may need to be monitored in hospital.

Mine is categorized as severe Pre-Eclampsia because the amount of protein in my urine is very high. When my gynae told me that I have to be warded as soon as possible, I started to panic. This can’t be happening, my pregnancy is still in the 30th week! Unfortunately, that day Winston have to work on Saturday in some remote area. Tearfully, I alerted him about the situation.
I wasn’t prepared for such a threat to my pregnancy that I broke down in tears in her office.

My gynae, Dr Kang Wee, told us the possibility of the outcome, the baby will be premature and she has to go to NICU and it can cost us 40k-50k if we decided to be warded in Mount Alvernia (the hospital where my gynae practices). Dr Kang Wee used to practice in KK Hospital for 20 years, she suggested to be transferred there. As the biggest and most advanced hospital dealing with woman and children in Singapore, KKH sounds like a better plan for us, not to mentioned that it’s a government structured hospital. Singapore’s public health sector rates among the best in the world and they offer subsidized rates for citizen and PR.

That Saturday 14 July 2012, we checked ourselves to KKH.. and for the next 3 weeks it became the location of my story…