Danielle's story feature in the Sunday Life newspaper

Extract from the press report SundayLife on 17 March 2013

Danielle has one of the most severe forms of spinal muscular atrophy from a missing gene. KKH says it sees three or four cases of such cases a year. Danielle is on a ventilator round the clock. And because of reflux," meals can get into the airways and into the lungs, and her lungs may collapse", says Ms Choong. This happened when she was eight months old.
"One day, she vomited and food came out through her mouth and nose, and her lungs collapsed," she recalls, adding that she has been tube-fed via her abdomen since.
Muscle weakness means she cannot smile but her eyes light up when she watches Sesame Street and Disney Channel cartoons in the family's five-room flat in Simei.
In five years, Ms Choong and her husband were asked thrice: " Do you want to resuscitate her?"
Mr Seah, who quit his job last week to look after her full-time,says they could not have made it so far without the help of their friends.
They have come to a "juncture" and realised the answer to resuscitation questions: As long as her child will it, they will fight alongside her, says Ms Choong.
When Sundaylife! visited them on Tuesday evening at KKH, Danielle was warded for high pulse rate.
Her hospital stays have become more frequent, says Ms Choong- from once in about three to six months to monthly since last December.
Mum and helper take turns to stay over-night, sleeping on a chair, she adds.
Statistics online put Danielle's lifespan at one year.
But her four "bonus" years so far are proof that she cannot deprive her child of hope.
"What if a miracle comes up?" asks Ms Choong .
She adds: "I realise life is not about buying a house or having smart children. It's about living through challenges and supporting one another, and this child."
The gift from this frail daughter is strength for himself, says Mr Seah.
"Its not that I feel invincible but we're not fearful when it's time to say goodbye."