A proud mom’s story of raising CHD Malaysia founder Grace Jerald
This profile is part of the Global ARCH Storytelling Series to celebrate our members, their personal stories, and the work they do to help others.
I was a young mum and in a state of shock when I was told that my baby had a very major heart condition. It was a very tough journey, and I’ve cried a million tears. I’ve struggled, I felt helpless, inadequate, frustrated and at times it was scary. God carried me through this ordeal, and I experienced His love and strength. I was determined that this mess would be a message someday and Grace and I will be able to help other people in similar situations. For 24 years now, I have been involved with children suffering from congenital heart defects.
My daughter, Grace was born on the 15th of May 1990. At birth, she was a picture of health. My husband and I were so happy to welcome our little princess. It seemed so complete, a boy and a girl. We had a perfect pair, eighteen months apart.
One operation followed by another – feeling totally helpless
Sadly, at three weeks of birth, our baby became very ill and was diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Until then, I hadn’t heard of such a condition. It sounded foreign to me. Thirty-four years ago, there wasn’t a hospital solely dedicated for heart conditions in Malaysia. I was totally helpless. It is indescribable what we went through watching our child suffering and the emotional trauma that followed. It was one operation followed by another followed by pacemakers and all kinds of interventional procedures.
Although she was a very bright child, much of her childhood and school life were ridden with challenges. She couldn’t attend school regularly or participate fully in school activities. She fought her own battles in school coping with her challenges especially when she was in primary school. In secondary school, she was determined to break all barriers and charter a new beginning.
From sickly child to university graduate and charity founder
Grace excelled in her studies, graduating from one of our premier public universities, University Malaya with a Bachelor of Arts. Today she works for a large international organization and continues to be a powerful witness and testimony to Almighty God’s healing. She is the founder of Congenital Heart Defects Malaysia (CHD Malaysia) and is also a founding member of Global ARCH.
By Theresa Gnanakkan Jerald
