Mum who never gave up on baby with a special heart

Four-year-old Johanna Tan (left) with her parents Rachel and Ivan Tan and younger sister Emma. Born with congenital heart defects (below), Johanna needed a heart operation at National University Hospital when she was four months old, and another at t
Four-year-old Johanna Tan with her parents Rachel and Ivan Tan and younger sister Emma. Born with congenital heart defects, Johanna needed a heart operation at National University Hospital when she was four months old, and another at two years. PHOTOS: KEVIN LIM, COURTESY OF RACHEL TAN
Calvin Yang
Correspondent
Updated
May 14, 2018, 04:37 PM
Published
May 13, 2018, 05:00 AM
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Twenty-two weeks into her pregnancy, Mrs Rachel Tan went for a routine ultrasound scan which found severe anomalies in her baby's heart.

Doctors concluded that her unborn daughter, who had a combination of heart defects, would not live very long, and suggested that she have an abortion.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on May 13, 2018, with the headline Mum who never gave up on baby with a special heart. Subscribe

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