Meet my daughter, ABEGAIL SOPHIA APUNTAR, who was born on July 29, 2003, 7:49 PM, at San Juan De Dios Hospital in Pasay City. Measuring about 50 cm and weighing 6.3 lbs at birth, she seems to be a very normal and healthy baby. I still have to see the results of her new born screening, a process by which mental retardation, among other things, can be detected earlier and therefore may be cured before it is too late.

I consider Sophia's birth a gift of miracle. As a matter of fact, even her mother almost gave up during the early months of her pregnancy. Most of our relatives were afraid of the congenital malformations that were highly possible to happen to our woud be baby back then. They were actualy hoping that the pregnancy be naturally aborted. Such was the case because on November 2002, her mother's impacted tooth was removed through a surgical operation. Considering the anesthesia applied during the operation and the medicines she took after the operation there is a high possiblity of congenital malformations and other mental defects! As an example, she was given diazepam for her sedation. Click here for information on the possible fetal risks. But I said no, there shall be no abortion. I told her mother to be ready to accept whatever the outcome would be.

I was so thankful to God that there were no congenital malformations that happened. Well, she got an extra finger attached to her left thumb but that wasn't attributable to the surgiucal operation that her mother undergone during the first month of her pregnancy. It could be more of a hereditary thing. I actually am doing some research on this and I am planning to consult an ortho surgeon about her case. I plan to have it removed.

August 09, 2003

Sophia's first visit to her Pediatrician wherein she was given her first vaccine - BCG

October 11, 2003

Sophia was welcomed to the Christian World thru a baptism rites at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish at Salasa, Bugallon Pangasinan. It was also her great grandmother's (Mamang Amy) 75th birthday celebration!

October 31, 2003

Sophia's first visit to her Daddy's birth place, Cuenca, Batangas.