“To be born in Singapore during a flight layover was God’s mercy over Judah’s life”: “Micro-preemie” born at 24 weeks fights for his life

They were on a 10-hour red eye flight from Ethiopia to Singapore in August this year when it became clear that something was not right.

Alexis Ostermayer, who was 24 weeks pregnant at the time, felt her womb cramping up at regular intervals. She had to pace her breathing to breathe through the pain.

“My deepest fear was pre-term labour but I ruled that out because a check by my doctor earlier that day in Ethiopia found no signs of it. Instead, she gave me antibiotics for an infection and cleared me to fly,” Alexis told Salt&Light. She endured the pain without informing the cabin crew.

She and her husband Tyler are global workers with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada.

Their family having a walk during Christmas in Canada last year.

They were based in Ethiopia, driving business incubation projects aimed to alleviate poverty for various communities. On August 21, they were making their way to Malaysia – with a four-hour layover in Singapore – for a team meeting there.

A cake celebration with their Ethiopian community in 2025.

Tyler, who had their one-year-old toddler River sprawled asleep on his lap during the flight, harboured the same fears as his wife but he tried hard not to let his mind go there.

When the exhausted parents finally landed in Singapore, they rushed out to retrieve the stroller that they had checked in.

“I started to freak out because the pain was getting worse and I couldn’t feel my baby moving,” said Alexis.

To go or not to go to a hospital while in transit 

Not knowing what to do because they had another flight to Malaysia to catch in four hours, Alexis cried out to God.

“In that moment, God gave me the peace to think rationally and to make a decision,” she told Salt&Light.

If she headed straight for the hospital and it turned out to be a false alarm, the worst consequences she had to face were inconveniencing some people and having to buy another flight ticket, she thought.

But if it was a real emergency and medical attention was delayed, Alexis was aware she could lose the baby.

Facing what was possibly a life-and-death situation, the 35-year-old told her husband they needed to head to the nearest hospital immediately. Staff members of the airport were alerted and along with her family, Alexis was escorted on a wheelchair out of the immigration area to take a taxi to the hospital.

By the time she arrived at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), it was 7pm. The doctor placed a cold doppler (ultrasound instrument) on her belly and her baby responded by moving around.

She said: “That was when I relaxed as I knew my baby was still alive. But what they said next shocked me; that I was already 5cm dilated and would not be leaving the hospital until the baby was born.”

While in the delivery room, her contractions continued to intensify and Alexis felt a gush of liquid flowing out of her. Assuming that her water bag had broken, she asked Tyler to inform the doctor.

He stood up and saw blood everywhere. It turned out that Alexis’ placenta had detached from her uterus wall, causing severe haemorrhaging.

“We need to get the baby out now to save the mother’s life,” the doctor told Tyler, explaining that Alexis risked bleeding to death.

“I overheard what was being said but I remember feeling the peace of God being heavy in the room,” Alexis recalled.

Through she was exhausted coming straight from a flight, she opted for a natural delivery after praying about it.

A “micro-preemie” with a 50% chance of survival 

She pushed hard for 10 minutes before her baby was born at 1.39am on August 23.

Being just 24 weeks old, he weighed only 770g – less than a quarter the weight of an average newborn baby. He is what doctors call an extreme preterm baby, or “micro-preemie” in layman’s terms.

Judah, a few days after he was born.

Local medical and scientific evidence points to 24 weeks of pregnancy as the threshold for foetal viability. Reviews by the Ministry of Health in 2018 and 2022 involving local experts concluded that the foetal viability of babies born at 24 weeks is about 50%. 

“I am so sorry. I love you,” Alexis said to her baby boy during the half a minute that he was placed on her before being whisked away. Seeing her “so so tiny” baby whose cry was barely a whisper made her wonder if he would be able to survive.

Alexis with Judah, a few hours after he was born.

Her husband Tyler had the opposite reaction. Hope arose in his heart when he saw the baby – born almost 4 months premature – being bigger than he imagined.

Though husband and wife had had not been able to agree on a baby boy’s name before, they now named him Judah a few hours after he was born.

“I was praying in the ward for a strong name for him to overcome all the odds stacked against him. ‘Lion of Judah’ came to mind and it also resonated with Tyler,” said Alexis.

Judah was so small that their hands could fully cover him.

It was only later on that the couple found out that Singapore is known as the Lion City, and they saw it as another confirmation that it was God who had brought Judah to be born in Singapore.

“We fully believe it was God’s mercy over Judah’s life that he was born in Singapore. Had he been born the day before in Ethiopia or the day after in Malaysia, he might not have survived. Had he been born on the plane, both he and Alexis might not have survived either as she suffered heavy bleeding and needed medical intervention,” said Tyler.

“Having landed in Singapore, Judah is able to receive world-renowned medical treatment,” he said, alluding to Singapore’s healthcare system which ranks among the best in the world.

The first few days of Judah’s birth were critical to his survival. Close monitoring in the form of scans, X-rays and blood tests were done. He was so small that he needed blood transfusions each time blood was drawn for tests.

Judah was placed on a ventilator to help him breathe. Steroids were administered to strengthen his lungs and antibiotics prescribed to fight off any hint of an infection.

Being a premature baby, he also needed medication for the open duct in his heart to close. Two minor brain bleeds were discovered in his first week of life but they resolved themselves over time. 

Newborn Judah.

During this time, fear and grief overwhelmed the newly postpartum mother.  

“I feared for his survival and the quality of life he would have even if he pulled through. Would I be able to handle any severe special needs or disability? I also grieved over how he was in so much pain and discomfort at a time when he should be feeling the safest in our arms,” said Alexis. 

However, she was not angry with God nor did she ask Him “Why me?” She had worked through those questions with God in her years facing infertility. Both her children were conceived through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Hardened hearts despite experiencing a Red Sea miracle

As Alexis spent time in prayer, asking God to spare Judah’s life, she felt Him speaking to her through His word in Hebrews 3:16.

She had been reading about how the Israelites had seen God parting the Red Sea for them and yet their hearts remained hard towards Him while they were in the wilderness. In that verse, the writer wrote about how the very people who were led out of Egypt were the same people who later rebelled.

“The Holy Spirit showed me how God had already parted the Red Sea for Judah in bringing him to SGH in Singapore so that he may survive. Instead of hardening my heart in disbelief, I needed to trust Him while I was in this wilderness journey,” said Alexis.

Her husband was similarly going through such a traumatic time as he witnessed what was happening to his wife and son, all the while caring for his toddler daughter. The stress was so acute that his memory was affected. There were times when he could not remember the password to his laptop. His co-workers from the region came over to support him in different ways, including showing him how to take the MRT and buy groceries.

Tyler singing songs to Judah.

There were many things weighing on his mind. The mounting medical bills were overwhelming, and they were alone in a foreign land as they did not know anyone here. 

On the third day, when Alexis was due to be discharged, Tyler sat next to an elderly woman in the packed hospital cafeteria. He was feeding River fries and the old woman kept smiling and waving at her.

River eating lunch with Dad while Mum was at the hospital with Judah.

The elderly woman turned to Tyler and said: “God will take care of her brother. Daddy, you are worrying too much. God is telling you not to worry so much. God is with you.”

Then she smiled at River one more time and disappeared into the crowd.

“She had no idea who we were or what we were going through. But God spoke through her to ease my anxiety and reassure me of His provision and protection. The heavy burden I was carrying on my shoulders lifted,” said Tyler, 43.

Offers of help from strangers 

As they had never travelled to Asia before and they did not know anyone in Singapore, the Ostermayers had no idea how to find a place to stay.

A member of Alexis’ extended family who is based in Asia, put the word out through her network about their situation. The news travelled so fast through the church network in Singapore that within three days, on the day of discharge, the couple was informed that an HDB flat in northeast Singapore was available for them to stay in for free.

“It belonged to a local church member. The Pastor of that church told me that when our need was surfaced to the congregation, five or six hands went up. So, we definitely would have a place to stay,” said Tyler.

Tyler and River having a moment of fun in the HDB flat that was offered to them to stay in.

God’s provision also came through other ways. Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian church members sent the newly postpartum mother everything that she might need, from a breast pump to milk bags, lactation cookies, confinement food and groceries. The church community from other churches such as Redemption Hill Church, Kingdomcity and International Baptist Church also supported them by praying for them and sending gifts and toys their way.

The close friends that they have made in Singapore.

Such assistance helped greatly as the limit that their insurance would pay out – CA$50,000 – was used up by the second week of Judah’s stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Their team in Canada managed to raise another S$34,000 to make the first payment to the hospital.

Every day, they live their lives beside the beeping machines of the NICU. Each morning they whispered prayers over Judah’s incubator, watching his tiny chest rise and fall as they celebrated every heartbeat and every small sign of progress. But every night, they returned home with fear in their hearts not knowing what tomorrow might bring, and worrying that they might lose Judah. 

Two weeks after his birth, Judah opened his eyes for the first time. His parents finally saw his beautiful eyes and could connect more deeply with him.

One of the first few times they noticed Judah opening his eyes.

On the morning of Alexis’ 35th birthday, when Judah was three weeks old, the doctor called to inform them that they would try taking Judah off the ventilator though his lungs might not be ready for it. In the hospital, the alarm went off several times when Judah stopped breathing.

“I was so anxious seeing him suffer, but that was the day God’s peace came upon me,” Alexis told Salt&Light. “The Holy Spirit told me that Judah is going to make it and that he is not alone even though I can’t be with him all 24 hours a day.”

Judah without his breathing tube for the first time.

Tylor also felt a peace that surpassed human understanding, and he kept reminding himself that the God who brought them to Singapore would also bring them out.

What was meant to be a four-hour layover in Singapore had turned out to a life-changing season, one that caught them off-guard.

They knew that life henceforth would never be the same again.

Earlier this year, they had moved to Ethiopia with plans to settle there for the long term. Tyler worked hard to make their house there a home for their family, and he had been excitedly working on the poverty alleviation projects for the nations.

Tyler and River looking out the window of their first home in Ethiopia, 2025.

“Everything (in our life) was working up to a crescendo, when the ‘chord’ suddenly crashed,” Tyler described. “The losses hit me hard when I received two phone calls.”

The first call was about giving up their rental house in Ethiopia because they did not know when they could return. The second call was from his teammates informing him that they had to move ahead without him for the projects, while he tended to his family.

During these few months, Tyler battled insomnia at night. He was constantly on alert as his phone might ring anytime with the doctors’ updates on Judah. Once, he went without sleep for 50 hours straight. His sleep improved after he consulted a doctor who prescribed him some medication.

Tyler changing Judah’s diaper for the first time.

These long and difficult days were fortunately, broken up by thanksgiving whenever they experienced a new milestone of Judah’s.

On September 19, about a month after Judah was born, Alexis could finally do kangaroo care with her son.

“It was sweet to hold him against my bare chest, though it was also stressful as he was connected to many tubes.  I talked to him, sung songs and prayed for him for an hour and a half,” said Alexis, who pumps her milk and has it delivered to Judah at the hospital.

Alexis holding Judah in September 2025.

The following month on October 21 was also a significant day: Judah could be moved from an enclosed incubator to an open one as his weight now exceeded 1.5kg.

“That was the moment I could heave a sigh of relief, and let myself relax a little,” said Tyler.

Judah was moved to an open incubator when his weight reached 1.5kg.

He found himself finally being able to go out with friends for a quick meal without feeling guilty that he was not at Judah’s side. He and his wife had also been trying their best to balance their time between hospital visits and keeping River happy and healthy.

The church community in Singapore embraced them and included them in their family activities – family meals, picnics at the beach or playdates.

Alexis and River with church friends they have made here.

“We have found friendships here that would likely last our lifetimes,” said Tyler.

Having dinner with the “family” that they have found in Singapore.

Some of those friends attended River’s second birthday celebration recently, which was held at Heights Park in Toa Payoh.  

River turned two in Singapore in November.

The close friends that they have found kept their spirits up during their extended stay in Singapore, especially during the times when Judah deteriorated after showing some progress.

In October, Judah had an infection and was re-intubated as he had run out of strength to keep breathing on his own.

Judah being re-intubated after he fell ill with pneumonia in October.

Currently, Judah weighs about 3.1kg and breathes through a CPAP breathing tube. He is learning how to drink milk from a bottle now.

“We cannot deny the power of God working in Judah’s life. In the early days, we prayed for Judah to survive each day. Now, we wonder which day he will be discharged,” said Tyler.

Judah learning to swallow milk with help from his speech therapist.

A new level of faith and trust despite uncertainty  

Their organisation PAOC is running a fundraising campaign to help them bring Judah home to Canada for follow up care once his condition is stable enough to fly.

Judah reached full term at 37 weeks on Nov 19, 2025.

SGH has also assisted them in setting up a Give.Asia crowdfunding campaign, and it has raised over $90,000 so far. Judah’s medical bills stands at roughly $230,000 now, and is expected to continue to climb till the day of discharge. Judah has just been moved out of the NICU to the high dependency ward.

“As charity workers, our income is modest. The financial burden is immense and we cannot carry it alone, but we trust that God will make a way,” Tyler told Salt&Light.

Going through such an ordeal has taught them to receive help with humility.

“Tyler and I used to be the ones teaching the youth and helping the homeless with dignity. But now the roles are reversed and we are on the receiving end,” said Alexis.

They hope to return to the field in future, though life as they knew it has been completely overturned.

“Many of the projects we were working on will likely still bear amazing fruits without us. And I doubt Jesus is surprised by any of these (disruptions). So, the question now is: How can the Lord use us in this very unexpected season?” said Tyler.

They have no answers yet, though they know that God must have a purpose for them through this experience, which  has taken them to a higher level of faith and trust in Him.

Tyler noted that their trip to Malaysia was planned six weeks before Judah was conceived.

“God was already working then,” Tyler noted.

“I still tear up when I think about how precisely it all has to work out for us to be here in Singapore. We could never have planned any of this ourselves. It is here that God’s mercy is shown in full glory over Judah’s life.”

If you wish to support Judah and his family, you can make a donation here.

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