Just prior to welcoming their little bundle of joy, the couple was in frenzy as doctors in Jakarta, Indonesia had advised for them to terminate the pregnancy. In a bid to save their long-awaited child, Nita and Harmein turned to doctors at Thomson Medical Centre - a hospital catering largely to the needs of women and children – in Singapore, and the rest, as they say, is history. Specialists consulted in Indonesia and Australia told the couple that Nita could never get pregnant, as there were problems with her eggs. She had to undergo artificial fertilization if they wanted a baby. Being Muslims, this was against their beliefs. Never did the couple give up hope of one day being able to cradle their own baby. So when all else failed, they turned to religion. A pilgrimage to Mecca - the holiest city in Islam - during the month of Ramadan saw the couple praying for their elusive hope. Miraculously, two months later, Nita was pregnant. At five weeks, she took no-pay leave from her job to avoid over-exerting herself. Nita wanted to ensure that she did everything right for her unborn child. Nita’s monthly visits to her doctor in Jakarta showed a healthy foetus at every check-up. At seven months, she had assurance from a second doctor that her baby was perfectly fine.

The couple’s joy was soon dampened when Nita’s doctor informed her at 36 weeks that her unborn baby was too ill to survive the duration of a full-term pregnancy, and in the best interests of both mother and baby, she should terminate the pregnancy. There was no explanation provided regarding their baby’s illness. Nita and Harmein had never once in the course of the pregnancy, imagined that they had to abort the child. Shocked at their doctor’s disinterest and incompetence in presenting a positive solution to the problem, they consulted doctors at Thomson Medical Centre in Singapore.

The couple was aware of the quality healthcare services Singapore offers, having visited the city for health screenings every half-yearly in the past. Nita had also undergone a laparoscopy at Thomson Medical Centre ten years ago, when her first child was miscarried. Harmein explained, “We were confident that if we made it to Singapore, the doctors would be ble to help.”

After a quick call to Thomson Medical Centre, the couple left for Singapore, proceeding straight to the centre upon arrival. The “very dangerous situation” called for immediate surgery and Nita was induced to deliver her baby ten days before he scheduled date of delivery. The 15-minute caesarean delivery was no sweat for Nita, under partial epidural.


Baby Rafif was born a year after his parent’s pilgrimage to Mecca, also in he month of Ramadan, and his parents acknowledge that their son is god’s gift to them. Baby Rafif was sent immediately to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NNICU) and spent ten days in phototherapy. He also had to be attached to a respirator, and was fed fluids and antibiotics intravenously. During this time, doctors battled jaundice and hepatitis too.

Baby Rafif spent the first 10 days of his life at Thomson Medical Centre. Visibly happy now that the worst is over, Harmein expresses his appreciation
for staff of Thomson Medical Centre. “I’m very happy with the doctors and the service at Thomson Medical Centre, especially the team at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The doctors informed us everyday of Rafif’s condition. When we were not sure about anything, the staff from the International Patient Service helped to explain. They were very helpful. We’ve waited so long for a baby. If we had not come to Singapore, the doctors in Jakarta would have terminated the pregnancy.”

During baby Rafif’s trying period in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Nita and Harmein resided at an apartment in the vicinity of Thomson Medical Centre, to allow for convenient access to their baby. “The staff from the International Patient Service booked an apartment for us and even helped us with immigration and permits.”

A special feature at Thomson Medical Centre is a prayer room for Muslims. The uncertainty of baby Rafif’s health brought anxiety to the couple and
Harmein could frequently be seen offering prayers when time permitted. Thomson Medical Centre has always been sensitive to the special needs of
patients, in particular, Muslim patients, both local and regional. Apart from the halal food service, kiblats are available in the delivery rooms.