1	I Chose to Say Yes!
2	My journey to a bundle of joy
3	Made in Japan!
4	You're pregnant. Well done!
5	May The Stork Visit You Soon
6	Reflection Of Motherhood
7	Saved From An Abortion!
8	Have You Room In Your Heart?
9	Singapore Miracle Baby
10	Please Don't Give Up, Don't Go For An Abortion!
11	Thank you, Ah Gong!
12	My Baby, My Inspiration.

Following the birth of Mr. and Mrs. Lingams' only son twenty-one years ago, doctors had told Mrs. Lingam that she could not have any more children. Despite suffering from endometriosis with back and legs pains for the next twenty years, she and her husband held the hope of having a baby brother or sister for their son. However, each time she conceived it always resulted in a miscarriage. In October 1997, whilst visiting a nearby clinic for treatment for what was thought to be a common but persistent cold, she was informed by the General Practitioner that she was in fact pregnant. A second opinion from her family doctor confirmed the diagnosis that she was indeed three months pregnant. Although she had been having hormonal injections in her attempt to have another child, the news came out of the blue for Mrs. Lingam since there had been no planning for this pregnancy.

As she was overweight from the hormone treatment and being close to forty years of age, she was told by gynaecologists at both a hospital and a private clinic to either abort the baby or have an amniocentesis test. Amniocentesis is a procedure whereby amniotic fluid is withdrawn from the mother's womb and is tested for any abnormalities of the foetus. However, both Mrs. Lingam and her husband were opposed to have an abortion. The doctors then advised her to go on a full diet so as to avoid any difficulties with the proposed caesarean section. Hearing this advice made them more unhappy as they knew that the baby needed the best nutrition possible and such a diet would deprive the child of that. It was at this time that they decided to consult Dr. Chew whom they had known for sixteen years.

Dr. Chew assured them that he would do all that he could to help them through the pregnancy and delivery, and they were encouraged to be told that this child was a gift from God, a miracle baby! He also advised the couple of the high possibility of Mrs. Lingam having another miscarriage or of going into pre-term labour if she were to go for the amniocentesis test. Since God had given them this baby, Dr. Chew told them, then it would be a strong, healthy baby and that he would pray for them and the child. Renewed in strength and confidence they decided to trust in God and forego the test.

Following the advice of Dr Chew and of a dietician whom he had recommended, Mrs. Lingam rested in bed and did no work to avoid the risk of a miscarriage, her husband taking care of everything.

Ajay Kumar Lingam was born one month prematurely on the 26th of March 1998 by caesarean section. As he experienced difficulty in breathing however, his first three days were spent in the Intensive Care Unit, by which time Mrs. Lingam was getting anxious as she still had not seen the child. On the fourth day however he was able to breathe unaided and mother and son were re-united, both being discharged as healthy and well on the sixth day.

Mrs. Lingam says that Ajay is a very easy baby to take care of. It was evident that both Mr. and Mrs. Lingam love children, and for the ten years preceding Ajay's birth, they were in fact helping other parents to look after their children. With so much love to give, they have now been blessed indeed with the little brother that they always wanted for their son. We wish the Lingam family well, and may God continue to bless them.

Acknowledgement: This story was first published in "Family Life Line". ALife wishes to thank "Family Life Line" for their kind permission to present to you an adapted version of the story here.