It Changed My Life: Her daughter's every birthday is a triumph

Doctors said her newborn would live only for two weeks, but this mum never gave up

Ms Tham Yin May and her daughter Vera, who was born with a rare genetic disorder that resulted in her having a lateral cleft palate and defects of the brain, heart, stomach, airway, spine, ears, fingers and feet. Vera cannot talk, walk or swallow, and has to be fed through an opening in her stomach. She also cannot see, hear or breathe well. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

Ms Tham Yin May struggled with postpartum depression after giving birth to Vera, who suffers from the life-threatening condition Trisomy 18. However, through the power of music, Ms Tham rediscovered the definition of love.

Wong Kim Hoh

Deputy Life Editor

Updated

Published

Sep 02, 2018, 05:00 AM

When Ms Tham Yin May gave birth to her first child a decade ago, someone she knew said: "The good thing is, she won't live for long".

That insensitive comment stunned the former advertising creative director, intensifying the grief that was already overwhelming her.

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The Straits Times