About Bernice

This is the story of my little Bernice. I had miscarriage for my 1st pregnancy and Bernice is my 2nd pregnancy. When I’m 9 weeks pregnancy, Dr. Lim found out that I have low hemoglobin and want to check more on both of us (my husband and I). We have to do blood test.

After that Dr. Lim diagnosis both of us are the carrier of Beta Thalassemia. 50% of the pregnancy will be Thalassemia Trait (Minor), 25% will be normal & 25% will be Thalassemia Major. What’s that? At that moment, we are so confused. We have never come across this word. Dr. Lim refers us to KKH to look for Prof. Ivy Ng in order to find out more about Thalassemia. A brief understand of Thalassemia. Thalassemias are a group of genetic blood diseases that cause a reduction of the production of normal hemoglobin in the red blood cells. Children with thalassemia major are usually normal at birth but soon develop symptoms of paleness, headaches, fatigue and shortness of breath, jaundice and enlargement of the spleen. They may not want to eat and they may vomit frequently after feedings. Thalassemia is treated with certain drugs and needs regular blood transfusions.

I have to do Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) than will know the outcome. CVS test can only be done on the 12 weeks of pregnancy. Dr. Lim doesn’t do CVS at her clinic so she refers me to Mount Elizabeth Hospital to look for Dr. Ann Tan. We have to wait for two weeks in order to know the result. Dr. Lim fixed an appointment with us when the result is out.

Once we entered Dr. Lim's room, her expression was very sad. We can tell the result from her expression. I just straight away asked her, is it a bad news for us? Her replied : YES! The test result shows that Bernice was a Thalassemia Major. My tears fall immediately. Why we are so lucky. Only 25% chance might get major and my little Bernice is one of them. Dr. Lim asked us to decide whether to continue the pregnancy or abortion. It is up to our decision.

After our consideration, we have decided to keep our little Bernice. Maybe there are some complications during pregnancy but I have a very successful pregnancy. I managed to go through the whole pregnancy without any complication. It’s my 39 weeks of pregnancy. Bernice was born at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre on 4th Feb 2004 (Wednesday) at 2353 hours through caesarean due to she passed motion. Her weight was 3.46kg & 50cm in height.

Bernice had her first appointment checkup at KKH on 16th Feb 2004 with Prof. Ivy Ng for Thalassemia. Prof. Ivy Ng told us that every six weeks we have to bring Bernice for hemoglobin blood test. If her hemoglobin was low (about 8gm/dL), need to have blood transfusion. Hemoglobin will be range for normal people are Male are 13~18gm/dL and Female are 12~16gm/dL. We did asked Prof. Ivy Ng why Bernice hemoglobin can be as low as 8gm/dL before transfusion. She told us that the more times she had her transfusion; the iron will be overload in the heart & kidney area. This is to lower the chances of iron overload but time to time comes, she still have to face iron overload problem one day. People who has Thalassemia Major will need to start medication to reduce iron once it is overload in the kidney or heart. Either need to take oral medicine or injection or both methods.

Bernice starts oral drug that chelates iron called deferiprone (L1) medicine when she was 2.5 years old.


Lately we decided to let her go for cord blood transplant using her brother cord blood. So she has to start using the Desferal injection (Refer to diagram as shown below).

For Thalassemia Major patient, they have to inject every 5 or 6 days per week, it is depend on their condition.


It's too bad that our little Bernice can’t make it during the transplantation but we really hope she is now rest in peace.

Desferal injection

Desferal injection

Don't worry Bernice! You will always be remembered

Don't worry Bernice! You will always be remembered
Not only Daddy, Mummy & Di Di Miss you alot. It's everyone :)

Dora the Explorer. It's my most time favourite cartoon!


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I love you, di di.

All photos taken at SengKang home.

Took on 4th Jan 2008

Took on 14th Jan 2008


Took on 15th Jan 2008


Took on 5th Jan 2008


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My special day

Today it's my birthday eve. My actual date was fall on 4th Feb (Monday). All my auntie, uncles & cousins are celebrating for me on Sunday where as everyone came to my grandparent house at bishan. Aileen gu gu who is helping me to prepare foods for everyone. My cake was bought by three gu gu. Due to CNY, grandma's refrigerator was full. No more space for my cake so the cake has to keep at our neighbor's house refrigerator. After our dinner, we intend to cut cake. Aileen gu gu went to our neighbor's house to collect the cake but no one at home. I'm so disappointed. What should we do? Wait for them to be back lor. The time is already 8pm plus. They intend to go home without waiting me to cut cake. All of them need to go work or school tomorrow. It's okay. Good bye to everyone of them and thanks for coming. About 9.30pm, our neighbor is back. Aileen gu gu collect my cake and prepare to sing birthday song. Grandma had gone to bath. Grandpa, Aileen gu gu, daddy, mommy & di di will sang birthday song for me :)
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That's my Winnie the Pooh Bear cake.
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Hmm..... Thinking......What are my birthday gifts????
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Light up candles of my cake and have a family shoot.
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Ready to sing...... 1 2 3
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to Bernice!
Happy birthday to you!
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Now we sang Chinese vision.
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Make a wish!
Blow candles......
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And cut my cake......
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After enjoy eating cake, mom asks me to wash up and open my birthday gifts. Before open the gifts, let take photos with the gifts. Hooray.
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Wow! I love my gifts. Thanks grandparent who bought me the Mickey Mouse coca cola - coke soda vending machine & aunties who bought me a Powerpuff girls back pack and Kids Cleaning play set for me.
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1st day of CNY 2008 (7th Feb)

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Today I wake up early in the morning. Know that daddy is going to bring us to his workplace at Holiday Inn Hotel to see Lion Dance performance. We whole family dress up in RED. Too bad brother Cody was sleeping in the baby sling and can't see him wear red. There is an `Ang Mo' guy asking us, do you want me to help take picture of your whole family? We agree and thanks a lot.
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Cheers :)
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After few photos taking, waiting for the lion dance troupe to come. Hooray! I love to watch.
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2nd day of CNY 2008

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We went to visit grandparent at Yishun on 8th Feb.
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I took photo with cousin Yan Zhi and his family. After that we will be going to grand aunt house to have our dinner.
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Pray Ti Kong ceremony

Every year, during the 15 days Chinese New Year period, on the 8th night, Hokkien people will pray to the Sky God or known as Ti Kong 天公. Include my grandparent. Few days ago they will start to prepare.




We have to change clothes as my grandpa wants everyone to dress up nicely before pray. I'm ready and able to take some pictures of myself.



After praying, we go downstair to burn the joss papers 金纸.
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She likes to watch & play Playhouse Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse :)


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Sometimes she will also likes to choose Disney Princesses. Eg. Bags, clothes, shoes, etc.


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