after 33 years...
FOR 33 years, it was her dream to meet her birth family.
Yesterday, Miss Teikai Lin Fraser's dream was realised at a tearful reunion with her mother and eight of her 12 siblings.
Miss Fraser, who was given up for adoption when she was a few days old, embraced her 73-year-old birth mother Madam Liow Kui Huay, at her home in Jurong East yesterday afternoon.
The tearful reunion came after Miss Fraser's siblings saw her story in The New Paper on 12 May and Lianhe Wanbao the day before.
Miss Fraser, a Canadian citizen, had approached the media to look for her birth family.
At the reunion, the first words Madam Liow said to Miss Fraser were to ask if she was doing okay in Hokkien.
As Miss Fraser is English-speaking, she was not able to understand her mother. So her older sister Madam Joanna Chua, 35, an accountant, translated for her.
Miss Fraser told her mother that she was 'doing well'. She also addressed her as 'mum'.
Rubbing her shoulders gently, Madam Liow held on tightly to her long-lost daughter for a few minutes.
Madam Liow said: 'I am thankful to her adoptive parents for bringing her up so well. I've always regretted giving her away.
'But now I don't because she's a healthy and capable university graduate.'
Reunited at last, Madam Liow Kui Huay held on tighly to her long-lost daughter, Miss Teikai Lin Frasier, for a few minutes. TNP Pictures: NATASHIA LEE
SURREAL
Miss Fraser said the joyous occasion was 'overwhelming and almost surreal' for her.
'It's pretty amazing. I've waited a long time for this day to come. I did not know what to expect but I definitely feel welcomed and loved.'
After they hugged, Miss Fraser offered joss-sticks to her deceased birth father. She also served Madam Liow a cup of tea as a show of respect.
Madam Liow then gave her a red packet. Madam Chua explained to Miss Fraser that the red packet was a token of their mother's love for her.
Miss Fraser's second eldest brother, Mr Chua Kim Seng, 51, a taxi driver, shed light on what happened decades ago.
He said his mother had always blamed his father for giving their daughter up for adoption.
Mr Chua, who had also opposed the adoption, added: 'Which mother would want to give her child away?'
He said his father was in bad health at that time and could not give Miss Fraser a good life.
Their diet of porridge and sweet potatoes in the past is proof of this.
Mr Chua said: 'My mother was heartbroken. She tried to argue with my father but he was as stubborn as he was bad-tempered.'
He said Madam Liow had 'lost many nights of sleep over the years' over the matter.
Madam Chua added that her mother often had dreams of cradling her baby once more.
According to Miss Fraser's siblings, Madam Liow had also tried to take her daughter back from her adoptive parents while they were in Singapore.
But she was not allowed to enter their Upper Thomson Road home as the Canadian couple were fearful that she would take the baby away.
Instead, she could only stand outside and hear the baby's cries.
MOVED TO CANADA
After a few years, Mr Chua returned to the home in search of his younger sister. He found out that she had been taken to Canada in 1975.
His sister, Madam Chua Kim Heok, 43, who owns an eatery in Malaysia, said they remained positive.
She added: 'We told our mum to stay healthy so that she would be around for a day like this.'
Madam Liow said she does not blame her husband for giving their daughter away anymore.
'Look at how she turned out,' she said of Miss Fraser. 'She's healthy, pretty and the most educated in the family.'
One of the siblings joked: 'She's the tallest girl in our family too so she must have had enough milk to drink.'
Madam Chua is glad that her sister came forward to look for them.
She said: 'We lost contact with her and we knew that it would be close to impossible to locate her in Canada.
'So we were hoping that she would approach the Singapore media.
'We're grateful to the media. It's because of the reports that we have found our sister.'
Miss Fraser, who is an urban planner, said her next step is to learn more about her culture.
'I will come back as often as my job permits me to see my family here. My adoptive family is very supportive of this.'
Aside from the remaining four siblings she will be meeting, she also has 13 nephews and nieces whom she hopes to get to know at a family reunion dinner this weekend.
She said that although she felt 'shy' at first, she could not wait to catch up with her family.
'It's been 33 years, there are so many things I want to say, where do I start?'
Melody Zaccheus, newsroom intern
The Electric New Paper
4:41 AM
