Alfred 2nd Hearing Test and 3rd Pediatric Check Up

Today, I have to leave Alfred with his daddy as I was attached to an important course at my company. Early in the morning, Alfred needs to do his hearing tests. KS accompany by his mother to the hospital. The story line goes like this. Alfred need to goes to sleep before he could take the test. Normally, around 11am, it is time for Alfred morning nap. That is the best time. When KS successfully cuddle him to sleep, unluckily someone is in the hearing test room. Ks went into the testing room only after ½ hours. Sadly, the test failed again. When the 1st test failed, doctor changed to another type of testing tools. At that time, Alfred waked up. Again, they have no choice but to let Alfred taking sleeping medicine. The 2nd test was successful. Alfred has no problem in hearing. We are so glad to hear that news. But the doctor did mentioned, if Alfred could not talk when he reach 36 months, we have to bring him back to the clinic. It's definitely won’t happen, that is my hope!!

I’m back to my in law house in the afternoon as the course took up only ½ day. It is time for Alfred pediatric checkup. Today trip to pediatric is a pleasant trip. Although we have waited nearly 3 hours just because the nurses can’t find Alfred file, we have met good doctors. An applause to the those doctors. Although they are very young doctors, they act professionally. I threw out many questions at them and yet, they can answer well. As advice by Tonya, I did ask about the MRI. The test was done on Mac when Alfred admitted to hospital for 2 days due to high fever. Even the CT scan on his foramum have been done. The reports We also rose up issue on Alfred breathing. Sometimes, he seems like stop breathing for 1 or 2 seconds and then comes with a deep breathing. We ask the doctor whether Alfred is developing Apnea. As explained by the doctor, it is normal for young children. Their heartbeat is twice as fast as the heartbeat of an adult. If the breathing stops more or merely 20 seconds, then we have to admitted him to hospital immediately. Today conclusions, Alfred is really healthy and a happy boy. Although we don’t have actual growth chart for him, but as long as he is in good health, that have been really good. Alfred next checkup will be on December.

2nd trip to Pediatric Clinic and A Visit to Pediatric Orthopedic Clinic

On his 2nd trip to pediatric, Doctor Vimal is on annual leave. Alfred was seen by another doctor, a newly graduate lady doctor. To be frank, she is just as young as me as I saw her identification on her tag. She ask politely that she want to took a picture of Alfred for her keeping purpose because this the first time she treating an achondroplasia baby. We raised the issue about Alfred lower spine had started to bow out which concerned us so much. A senior doctor came by and commented Alfred to do an x-ray on his spine and was then sent to orthopedic. He was recommended to another hospital in bigger city, Kuala Lumpur which have pediatric orthopedic clinic. The results said that Alfred spine had show no sign yet of kyhosis. But what happened in the pediatric orthopedic clinic really annoyed me. Again, Alfred was checked by a newly graduate doctor in that clinic. I guess government hospital is the training ground for new doctor. At that time, he wasn't sure because this is the first time he treated an achon child. He called up his professor but ended up Alfred being a teaching method to all the newly grad doctor there. Those doctors was lining up in front of the professor as the professor throwing out question for the doctors to answer. The situation is like you are in the classroom with a real human as a teaching method. I feel so sad and unrespectable by the professor. He didn’t read on Alfred report and just a simple glance through Alfred x-ray. He then told me that there is nothing to worry as kyhosis might will or might not occur when he grew up later. About those new doctors, they just took Alfred photo without asking my permission. Do they know how to respect their patient? A courtesy request, can I take a photo of your son? I guess that wasn’t so hard. To be frank, I don’t like my son photo being taken although I know it for a good purpose. Just some voice inside my little heart feels uneasy about it. I’m still thinking should I still want to opt for the coming checkup.

Eventually till now, I’m still looking around for a good doctor whom will really concern about Alfred conditions. We don’t have Achondroplasia specialists in our country. The only way we could find more information is by surfing the internet which leads me to many impressive mommy blogs. Their little baby stories burst me into tears and they do bought me laughter on every of their little move. They have inspired me with their blogs. Here, I would like to express my gratitude to all achondroplasia website mommies’ blogs especially to Tonya and Knoah. Thank you so much.

Happy Day : Daddy And Alfred

A laughing moments of KS and Alfred ... Do enjoys!!

Daddy Quote : Alfred Laughing or Crying?

Alfred 1st hearing test

Today we bring Alfred for his hearing test. The test only can be done when he is sleeping. So, Alfred have to be given sleeping medicine to make him sleep. My heart feel dislike of Alfred taking sleeping medicine but doctor say it don't have any side effect on the child because the dose is very light. Alfred will be sleeping only for an hour. So, we agreed. Below is the picture when the test is taken.

The test failed. We have to bring Alfred to come for another test. And we hope the next test will be successful.

The Day Alfred Diagnosis With Achondroplasia

Alfred had his routine monthly checkup just like other babies in Malaysia does. I send Alfred for monthly checkup at government hospital on the early days when he was a month old. As told by my in-law, the government services have been improved and we could save up by avoiding going private which the bill will be costly. At that time, we thought it would be ok since KS brother son whom also does his monthly routine checkup there getting no hassle. Alfred was not diagnosed yet with achon, so we agreed. At Alfred first time checkup, it was done by nurses who checked him thoroughly from his head till his toe. I thought it would be good. At the last stage, Alfred was checked by a doctor who declared Alfred is in good health. In our country, baby monthly checkup was done by nurses in government hospital. They only referred to doctor when they noticed the baby grow development is not in sequent. His development is rather slow compare to other babies and he is far away behind the scale of normal baby growth. When Alfred was 4 months old, he was referred to pediatric doctor. Doctor Vimal, who treated Alfred at that time, told us that she wanted to do an x-ray for Alfred because he was showing the signs of dwarfism. We were stunned. After an x-ray was done, Doctor Vimal announce Alfred was confirmed having Achondroplasia. We were speechless, what is Achondroplasia? She started to elaborate on the result of the x-ray and his physical appearance. Alfred hands are short with stubby fingers and a separation between the middle and ring fingers. His feet are generally short, broad and flat. His head is larger than normal babies. She showed us a picture of an achondroplasia child and Alfred had the similar features. My tears began to drop. I was so heartbroken. He means the whole world to me. Dr. Vimal drag my back to the room, she comfort us by telling us there is cases like Alfred in Malaysia. Alfred might have complication and might not have them. She didn’t mention much about Alfred condition and I know I will have to find more information later. Alfred will be monitored once every 3 months. Other than x-ray, no other tests have been taken on him.

Meet the Leong's Family

Welcome to the Leong Family’s.
It’s had taken me some time to start this blog. The first step is always the hardest step. Finally, here I am, sharing our moments of everyday life about our family and our son, Alfred, who has been diagnosed with achondroplasia when he was 4 months old.

KS and I register for marriage in 2004 and our wedding ceremony was held on 8 October 2005. Alfred was born exactly on 8 October 2007 through C-Section. 8 October is Alfred expected due date and we were amazed when the doctor pointed out this date on our first checkup. I went to my final checkup 2 days before Alfred due date. My doctor said I should opt for C-section because I feel Alfred movement had been slowing lately and I don’t feel any contraction. So, we decided to go ahead on the expected due date.

I wakeup very early in the morning, bathe and washed my hair. Gosh!! I can’t wash my hair during the confinement month which usually took up to 1 month. We, chinese believe that if we wash our hair during the confinement, we will have headache, wind and it will affect our health later in life. Maybe, there is logic behind these believe. I have to follow those rules. I’m so excited when I reach the hospital. My mind wondered whether he is going to look like mommy or like daddy. Oh, how am I going to picture that? Here goes the operation room, all the nurses and doctor around doing their jobs, but my doc was no where to been seen. I lye down after the injection and my lower body became numb. I can’t feel anything. I uttered “huh”, and there my doctor showed his face. Here comes the funny part, doc asked, you ok? I answered, yes, oh doc, you’ve arrived? He said, oh yes, I’m in the middle of taking him out. Deep in my heart, I scream, WHAT!! The feels of nervous, forces of pushing and the next things, Alfred voice, crying. When the doctor showed him to me, oh my baby, he looked like his daddy. I cried. I’m a proud mommy as I gave birth to a lovely baby. After the operation, I was returned to a room and requested to see Alfred. Sadly, the nurse told me that Alfred must stay in the nursery room for 6 hours before they could bring him to me. KS make a trip to the nursery room and snap a few picture of Alfred. Within 10 mins, KS came back to me with Alfred pictures. I knock off after seeing Alfred picture. When I wake up, the nurse bring Alfred to me. When he was handed to me, I hugged and kiss him, oh, I miss that moment. The nurse came with the baby doctor. Doc told us that Alfred hands and legs are shorter. Doc advised us to pay more attention on monitoring his head is not bulging and no fever. At that time, we thought it just a normal advised for new parents. We stay a night at the hospital and went home with little Alfred the next day.

Alfred Pictures captured by his daddy.

MoMenTs of Alfred...

STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!