BIRTH TRAGEDY 200
blood donors couldn't save her
Mum of 4 bleeds to death after delivering twins
By Chong Shin Yen
July 13, 2007
WHAT was to have been a celebration of two new lives turned into
the death of their mother.
Madam Swee Lay Kuan was so excited about having twins that she went
about buying baby clothes in pairs - one in pink and one in baby
blue.
The excited mum had also thought of names for her baby girl and
boy. Now, she will never get the chance to cradle her babies in her
arms.
The 44-year-old sub-contractor died from massive bleeding two days
after giving birth. She did not regain consciousness.
She could not be saved despite being given more than 20 packets of
blood.
Madam Swee's family claim that staff of Raffles Hospital, where
Madam Swee was warded, had told them that its blood supply was
running low and that they did not have enough blood.
NOT ENOUGH BLOOD?
Now, Madam Swee's husband, Mr Jason Low, 43, has only one question:
Why wasn't there enough blood in the hospital?
But a Raffles Hospital spokesman said that a continuous supply of
blood was available for Madam Swee.
'There was full support and assistance given to Madam Swee by the
[email protected] to ensure that supply of blood were given without
delay.'
Speaking to The New Paper at her wake at Kim Tian Road yesterday,
Mr Low said that he was appreciative of the hard work put in by
Raffles Hospital.
'But I felt that the process of obtaining blood for transfusion was
too slow.'
Madam Swee was admitted to hospital last Thursday for bleeding - a
result of a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia). The delivery was
due on 23 Aug.
But because there was a threat of premature labour, and in the
interests of the twins' safety, she was scheduled for Caesarean
section last Saturday.
Mr Low, an operations manager, said: 'She was very excited about
the birth. When she was wheeled into the operating theatre that
afternoon, she was smiling at me and waving goodbye.'
Mr Low waited outside the operating theatre and, at about 3.30pm,
the twins were pushed out.
'I was so happy and proud when the staff and people around me kept
saying how cute my babies were,' said Mr Low, who has two other
daughters, 17 and 11.
But not long after, the doctor asked to see Mr Low.
He recalled: 'The doctor told me that my wife was bleeding
profusely and to save her life, they needed to remove her
womb.'
Mr Low signed the consent form.
Madam Swee was out of the operating theatre at around 7pm.
Mr Jason Low at his wife's wake yesterday. -- Picture: KUA CHEE
SIONG
But half an hour later, doctors told Mr Low that his wife was still
bleeding even after they had stitched her up.
Madam Swee was taken back to the operating theatre.
This time, it was a long agonising wait for Mr Low as he saw
medical staff going in and out of the operating theatre.
Said Mr Low: 'I was told that there were eight doctors helping my
wife. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't stop her
bleeding as her blood wouldn't clot.'
At about 3am the next day, a doctor came and told Mr Low his wife's
condition 'does not look good'.
'I was told that more than 20 packets of blood was given to her but
no matter how much blood they pumped in, she continued to bleed,'
he said.
Madam Swee's blood type was B+.
The hospital spokesman said that blood transfusion is given based
on clinical needs and all bleeding emergencies are given top
priority.
Said the spokesman: 'No approval from the hospital's higher
authority is needed.'
Mr Low said he pleaded with the doctors not to give up on his
wife.
That was when a staff suggested to him that he could get friends
and relatives to donate blood at the [email protected] and indicate
that the blood is for his wife.
So, that Sunday morning, about 200 of their relatives and friends
turned up to donate blood at the [email protected]
After that, Mr Low said, blood was released. But Madam Swee died
the following night at about 9.30pm.
Mr Low said: 'I was told that my wife was already brain dead due to
a lack of blood.'
Unable to accept his wife's death, a teary Mr Low said: 'It was
supposed to be a joyous occasion for us.
'We were so thrilled and was all prepared to welcome the two new
additions to the family.'
He said his wife had even thought of the names for the babies, but
he had rejected them.
'She wanted to name the boy 'Jacko' and the girl 'Jacinda'. But who
would name their kids 'Jacko'?
'I told her I didn't like the names. But now, I think I would use
them as she'd wanted. After all, this was her last wish.'
The babies are now at Singapore General Hospital's intensive care
unit as they were born premature. They are healthy.
The couple had been married for 13 years. Describing his wife as
cheerful and outgoing, Mr Low said that her health had always been
good.
'The pregnancy was a pleasant surprise to both of us. But she
didn't even have the chance to see how adorable our twins
are.'
Mr Low said their two elder daughters are holding up well.
'I have to be strong for them. Now, I have to play the role of both
the mother and father.'
Her funeral is on Saturday at 1pm.
