Hallelujah! In the name of Jesus, I bare testimony. I am Sis. Tara Surin Thongcharen from Skudai Church. My testimony is about how God showed His mercy and grace to me and my family in a very unexpected and amazing way.
In 2011, I was still working in Singapore and also pregnant with my first child. Around early August 2011, my company announced that the factory would be shut down by the end of December 2011 and it would be relocated to Rawang, Selangor. At that point of time, I was about 5.5 months pregnant, and my estimate due date (EDD) was on the 21st December. The company gave the employees a choice to leave without any compensation or to stay and work until year end with 2 months bonus compensation. I chose to stay and work for the company with the intention to fly back to Ipoh around early December, which was 2 weeks before my EDD. Later, after the announcement, around early September, my HR informed me that my manager had requested that I was granted with 8 weeks of paid maternity leave, which was not compulsory for the company to adhere because I was only holding a working permit. So, it was actually good news for me because it means that I could make plans to fly back to Ipoh in October instead of December. I would have ample time to prepare for all the necessities before the birth of my baby.
So, my husband and I booked the air tickets to fly home on the 14th October. On that day itself, I was actually experiencing pain on and off but I did not know that it was birth contraction pain. I thought that the pain was probably due to stress or exhaustion because I had been working in a 12-hour rotating shift environment. I ignored the pain. We reached Ipoh in the evening, safe and sound. On the following day, I had made a prior arrangement for an appointment with the gynecologist early in the morning. It was about 8 am when we drove from home for the appointment, and I was in pain. I felt like I needed to use the toilet, so as soon as we reached the hospital, I immediately went to the restroom. As soon as I removed my underwear, I saw blood. I was shocked and immediately got out and rushed to the nurse who was at the registration desk. She called the doctor who immediately attended to me. When he was examining me, he told me that I was actually experiencing labor contraction and that I was already 1 cm dilated. But I told the doctor that I was only 30 weeks pregnant. He looked surprise and immediately suggested that I should be admitted to the hospital. He explained to me the situation that I was in and what to expect if my baby was prematurely delivered. At that point of time, I was feeling lost and confused. When the doctor explained to me that premature babies are at a higher risk of chronic health issues due to their underdeveloped lungs and there are cases where premature babies die due to infection, I was lost for words and my mind was flooded with uncertainties.
I was then warded to a private hospital in Ipoh. The doctor tried to stop the bleeding through medications but I continued to bleed and the contraction became even more intense. That evening, the doctor tried giving me more medication to reduce the contraction but I vomited and the pain only increased. So, I asked the doctor to remove the medication that was inserted through the intravenous tube. Throughout the whole time, I prayed and asked God to help me keep my baby safe in my womb. I asked God to prevent me from having an early labor. My parents came to comfort and prayed for me. At that time, my husband was still a non-believer and he was also feeling very worried and sad. That night while I was struggling with the continual contraction pain, I prayed and asked God to help me and amazingly, through God’s grace, I actually managed to fall asleep throughout the night, peacefully without any pain.
As soon as I woke up the next morning, the contraction pain started again. The doctor came and examined me. I was still bleeding, so the doctor advised me to be transferred to Ipoh General Hospital because private hospitals are not allowed to deliver babies who are less than 35 weeks. So, I had no choice but to be transferred. I remembered the pain was excruciating because the intervals of contraction were like every 5 minutes. It was so painful to the extent that I felt breathless. I could only continue to pray in my heart. I waited and when I could finally be transferred, it was already in the evening. The doctors in the Ipoh General Hospital (GH) attended to me and after a couple of hours waiting, the doctor came and told me that they had to transfer me to either Penang GH or Teluk Intan GH because their ventilators were fully occupied. My heart sunk because I felt helpless. I was feeling so lost and it was as if God did not hear my prayers. Throughout the waiting time for another ambulance to transfer me, I continued to pray and I asked God to help me because I really did not want to give birth prematurely. I was afraid that my baby might have health issues or even not survive! I was not prepared for the worst. I prayed and asked God to just help me to tolerate the pain. I was willing to be in pain as long as He keeps my baby safe inside me.
At about 7 pm, I was transferred in an ambulance to the Teluk Intan GH and my husband accompanied me. Deep in my heart, I knew and I could feel that my baby would definitely come out anytime soon because the contraction pain was already at its peak. So, this time when I prayed to God, I asked God to save him. I asked God to just save him, only him and that is all I was asking for. I did not want to ask for anything else.
We reached the Teluk Intan GH at about 8 pm. My husband was not allowed to enter the labor ward, so I was alone. The nurses just left me on a bed at one corner. A doctor came in and checked, and I was only 3 cm dilated. She just left without saying much. I looked around and there were so many other mothers who were waiting in labor. I heard screams and cries from all corners of the ward. It was terrifying. My contraction pain had lasted for almost 48 hours, the bleeding was persistent and I felt that probably, I might die that night. I looked at the wall clock which showed 8:45 pm. I closed my eyes and prayed one more time. This time, in this prayer I only asked God to forgive me for all of my sins. As I was praying, I came to a realization that God is God. He is an Almighty God. He can raise the dead and make the impossible, possible. So why did I ask God to save only my child and not me? Suddenly, I heard a voice. A very gentle voice saying, “God has His will and whatever that happens, is His will.” Instantly, my heart was delighted and peaceful. I responded to the voice, and say, “then may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, for Your will shall also be my will”. A sudden warmth flowed down from my head and there was an urge for me to get up. I opened my eyes and saw the clock – it was already past midnight. I did not even realize that time had passed and I was not even in any pain. As I lifted up my back from the bed, I felt that something was not right. I called the nurse and told her that I needed to pass motion. She flipped up my blanket and saw a pool of blood. She shouted, “dah nak keluar!” It means, “it’s coming out!”. The nurses rushed and immediately pushed my bed into the labor room. They called for the doctor, but the doctor in- charge was not in the ward. There were only trainee doctors. The head nurse immediately took charge. She told me to give a good push and with just one push, my baby boy was born. I cried with relief as soon as I heard a small cry from behind the curtain. My baby was immediately sent to the NICU and I thanked God for His deliverance. I also made a promise to testify His grace. That night, I slept peacefully.
The next morning, my husband accompanied me to the NICU. When I was in the NICU, the doctor led me to a room where they had placed my baby. As soon as I saw him, I could not hold my tears. There were wires and tubes placed all over him. He was so tiny and there were no fats on his skin. I could literally see the veins and blood vessels right through his skin. I immediately went out from that room and cried. Then the doctor came and comforted me. He explained to me that my baby was very strong. He was placed in a ventilator for monitoring purpose and to supply him with oxygen if needed. But surprisingly, he did not require any assistance for oxygen supply and his lungs and heartbeat was very good. He was breathing very well and was very stable. I really thanked God for the reassurance. He was 1.89 kg upon birth and that was actually a healthy weight for a 30 weeks preemie (premature baby). His weight then decreased to 1.67 kg due to fluid lost. Soon after that, he was transferred to an incubator and then to the woman’s ward to be by my side.
There were many other challenges that I had to go through throughout the stay in the hospital but God continued to reassure me over and over again that I was not alone and that God is in control. We were allowed to be discharged after 10 days even though his weight did not reach the minimum limit, which was 1.8 kg. My baby did not have any birth defects at all and there were no complications throughout his growth. While I was still staying in the ward, I actually witnessed other premature babies turning blue, some with lung infections and even complications. There were also some mothers who had to stay in the hospital for more than 45 days because their baby’s condition was unstable. Being able to go home after 10 days was indeed an amazing grace by God.
Through this experience, I have learned numerous teachings. One of the most important lessons is to first seek for forgiveness and then submit completely to God. It is only through submission that I was able to see His wonders and miracles. God showed me His love even when I am unworthy. God’s plan is unpredictable. If my company was not relocated and I was not granted 8 weeks of paid leave, I would not have flown back earlier and in that case, I might have to give birth in Singapore which would have cost a fortune since I am a foreigner there. Secondly, I also understood that God’s love and power is beyond measure. It was only through His voice that I finally understood that all I had to do was to submit to Him with a complete faith because He knows exactly what is best for me. Our lives are in His hands. I am unworthy and yet He chose to save us. He is indeed a merciful and lovingkindness God, the only one True God. All the burdens that I had in my heart were lifted up and I know that, with God, all things are made possible.
I would like to share a bible verse for mutual exhortation. Psalms 46:10a: “Be still, and know that I am God”. This bible verse may seem very simple and short but often times we forget that God is an Almighty God. He can do all things and everything He does is good for God is good.
May all glory be unto Him. Amen.
