It has been 3 years since I wrote. This time, another dark angel entered my life, and i cannot love him more. Jalenn, born on 26 May 2010, a quick and painful delivery. It was different from Jovann. It was love at first sight.
Those were the words Dr Ng echoed to me when we brought Jalenn for his jab at 5 months old. Dr Ng has become our GP when he first helped Jovann with his broken head in school. He commented Jovann was very brave and did not shed a tear during the procedure. Thereafter, we kept going back to him for Jovann and Jalenn. I became the clinic's regular customer, having to bring either Jovann or Jalenn to see a doctor, three times in one week. When he first saw Jalenn, Dr Ng was really concerned with Jalenn's weight. I have to assure him that Jovann was a small baby too. Dr Ng declared that he would give Jalenn special attention. He saw through Jalenn's cough episodes at 2 months old, surprised by him catching up with his weight, concerned with his high fever at his 3rd month and he spotted Jalenn's problem at his 5th month.
"Let's wait for one more month to see if he catches up." That was on a Friday.
I did more research and found "floppy baby", "Hypotonia", "low muscle tone". Babies with this condition have low muscle tone and little head control. They are usually difficult to carry because they can easily slip through an adult's arms. Being floppy is not an illness, it is a symptom. There is usually an underlying health reason for the condition.
Come to think of it, Jalenn has been an easy baby to take care. He can to contented, lying on his back playing on his own. He was not a "cry baby" at all. Jalenn is not a baby who attracts attention, not like Jovann, but he has that ability to make people want to protect him. He is really, like a kitten (not a tiger).
Jalenn has lost his voice totally at 2 months old, from his cough. Nobody knew he was crying unless being seen. Thank goodness I have become a light sleeper after having Jovann; even lighter after Jalenn. I could hear his every move at night. That cough lasted 3 weeks, came back again after 2 weeks and recovered after 2 weeks. He had a chest x-ray, at 2 months old, to rule out any chest infection.
We decided to get a referral from a polyclinic to see a Pediatrician at KKH the next day. "Ok what, he can lift up his head." After a few more sentences from me, that doctor finally gave me that letter. He stated, "Mother concerns with baby's development". You can imagine how many times I rolled my eyes at him.
That afternoon, Dr Ng called Joseph. He felt that we should not wait and wanted to refer him immediately. He has discussed Jalenn's condition with his wife, who is also a GP and concluded any early intervention is good. He was really concerned when Joseph mentioned that Jalenn might just be slow, but assured him that we have gotten a referral for Jalenn that morning. Dr Ng was so concerned with Jalenn that he asked me for his updates whenever I see him for my flu. He even explained in detail what tests Jalenn will normally go through to rule out certain conditions. It's no wonder why Dr Ng is so close to Jalenn, they share the same birthday.
The first consultation was heartbreaking. The PD inspected Jalenn carefully and asked lots of questions, writing down every answer I gave. He explained that he would arrange an appointment with the Neurologist and at the same time to go for Physiotherapy. He asked for an ultra-sound to be done for Jalenn's brain, which we did that very day. We couldn't get an appointment with the Neurologist within 2 to 3 weeks (earliest in 2 months time in Jan 2011), so the PD wanted to see us again in a month's time for the results. When I peeked at the PD's diagnosis card, my heart dropped to see the word "Floppy Infant".
Joseph managed to push up the appointment date with the PD to check on ultra-sound results. Another PD attended to us and asked why we wanted to see the them sooner than scheduled. When he knew that it was for the results, he told us we could have just called. He was one humourous PD. He read us positive results and told us not to pay for his consultation. The brain, water, shape... everything is normal. Now, we'll just have to wait to see the Neurologist for further tests on his nerves, then muscles.
25 Nov was the day Jalenn would meet three therapists; physio, occupational and speech. The day before, I went to the temple to ask for 'directions'. Her answer to me was a weird one. When I went to collect the paper of the number stick, the man gave me 68; I thought I saw 69.
“不是六十九吗？”
“是六十八。你要六十九啊？六十九不好，你要我可以给你。”
I took both... 68 answered my question. "A remedy for all illnesses". I don't understand 69 at all. Maybe that was really her answer to my question.
Jalenn's first assessment with the therapists was a good one. He was 6 months old. Lots of crying, screaming and mommy's cuddle throughout the session. Lucy, his Physiotherapist, played 'superman' and lifted him up, tilting him left and right, front and back, to test his head control and all. Put Jalenn on his tummy and test for his head lifting. Placing him in a kneeling position, which sent Jalenn wailing. Of course not all crying, Jalenn was laughing when Lucy lifted him up to play 'superman'. Jalenn did very well with toys too. He is good with his hands and fingers. He passed his milk drinking test too. Suck, swallow, breathe. He did well.
"Jalenn is not really floppy. I think he can reach his milestones."
Those words were sweet.
Jalenn is weak with his muscles on the front and the back of his neck. That's why he doesn't tuck in his chin when we lift him up from his back, and his head might fall back or front when in an upright position. The sides of his neck are ok. He's back and abdomen is weak too. That's why he doesn't like to be in a sitting or upright position. His weak back will affect his shoulders, arms and hands. That's why he cannot prop himself up with his hands while on his tummy, and therefore, cannot roll to his back. Lucy didn't think he has a muscle tone problem and plans to train his back muscles and to get him to sit.
I think Lucy is very popular. All her slots are booked up till Jan 2011. She managed to squeeze Jalenn in for his second session on 15 Dec.
As I said, Jalenn is an easy baby. Anything goes. Little demands and not much fussing. That's why he was not being carried very often. The logic is as such. If a baby is not carried in an upright position often, he will have less opportunity to use his back muscles to explore the world, compared to a baby who is always fussing and wants to be carried all the time. Lucy has seen several of such cases, and Jalenn might be one of them.
Some tips from Lucy:
- She believes in hydrotherapy, but not with the neck-ring floats. Just mommy's safe hands and keep baby's head well above water. Totally agree.
- Jalenn cannot sit on a bumbo seat now because he doesn't have the posture and strength yet. He will just slump into the seat and shoulders roll forward. Once his back is stronger, he can use the seat to improve posture.
- NO walker. It will do more harm and hinder development. She has seen too many tip toe problem, or legs bent in. I didn't believe in walkers too, so Jovann never sit on one before.
More tips at Jalenn's second visit.
Jalenn seems stronger now. He likes to be carried around and he is exploring more. He is more demanding, but we are not complaining. His chuckles are like music to my ears. How can I not cry when I thought how he laughed during his 'superman' sessions?
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