When Ellie was four months old, a doctor at the polyclinic where she went for her childhood vaccination shots noticed a white patch on her skin and suspected it was caused by tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic disorder that causes tumours to grow in various parts of the body. The doctor referred the infant to the National Skin Centre for an appointment a few weeks later.
An anxious Madam Khor could not wait and took her to her paediatrician at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH). Also suspecting the child had TSC, the paediatrician ordered scans of Ellie's brain, heart, abdomen, kidneys and eyes.
In the meantime, Madam Khor I hit the internet to find out more about the disease.
"It scared us completely," recalled Madam Khor, 39, who is the general manager of a direct sales company.
"There was so much fear, I practically lost my mind for a couple of months. There was no way to know if she would be able to talk or walk." Tumours in the brain can cause epileptic fits and significant cognitive impairment. Half of the patients with TSC are autistic or have learning disorders. One in four has an IQ of below 50 (most people score between 85 and 115).
Aside from the scans, Ellie's blood was sent to the US for genetic testing. The test confirmed that she has TSC, although by then, Madam Khor said they already knew.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 28, 2024-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 28, 2024-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
China's coercion will only hasten Taiwan's efforts to diversify trade links
Concerns mount that overreliance on China market will be a strategic liability
Biden, world leaders urge Hamas to agree to ceasefire deal
White House statement also calls on Israel to be flexible and make final compromises’
Singapore yet to resume imports of live pigs from Indonesian farm
The Indonesian farm on Pulau Bulan that supplies two-thirds of Singapore’s freshly slaughtered pork has still not received the green light to resume export of live pigs to the Republic.
Hindu nationalism had limited appeal as bread-and-butter concerns ruled
Going forward, Indian PM Narendra Modi is expected to tone down communal rhetoric
88-year-old man in wheelchair charged with murdering his wife
An 88-year-old man who allegedly murdered his wife in a Housing Board flat in Bukit Panjang was charged in court on June 6.
Last man to enter plea not truly remorseful: Prosecution
DPP says offender chose to plead guilty only after seeing sentences meted out to others
Teen m-cyclist charged, says he's not to be blamed for LTA officer's death
A teenage motorcyclist, accused of fleeing from a Land Transport Authority (LTA) enforcement officer on June 4, was on the run at the time after he allegedly consumed methamphetamine in 2023.
S'pore looks forward to concluding Indo-Pacific trade pact: PM Wong
Issue has sensitive areas, but enhancing trade flows can improve lives, he says
MOM suspends work pass privileges of two employers who underpaid retail staff
Two errant employers who persistently underpaid retail employees, despite several rounds of engagement by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), will not get to apply for or renew work passes for foreign workers until they rectify the underpayments.
Mbappe says people, issues made him unhappy at PSG
Real Madrid attacker Kylian Mbappe said on June 4 \"things and people made me unhappy\" at Paris Saint-Germain before he signed a five-year deal with the Spanish club.