3-month-old Hong Kong baby girl in a critical condition needs heart transplant
Hospital Authority and family of girl named Whitney appeal for organ donors, as enlarged heart chamber leaves her at death’s door
A three-month-old baby girl is in need of a life-saving heart transplant after developing a condition of an enlarged heart chamber that has affected blood pumping to the rest of her body.
The Hospital Authority on Friday said the baby, known as Whitney, was in a critical condition in the paediatric intensive care unit of Hong Kong Children’s Hospital in Kowloon Bay.
The authority said it would also seek assistance from mainland China as soon as possible for a suitable heart, in addition to searching for the organ locally.
“In response to an urgent appeal from [Whitney’s] parents, the Hospital Authority appeals to members of the public to actively support organ donations and consider donating the heart of deceased relatives to give new life to others,” it said.
Whitney was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes her heart’s main pumping chamber to become enlarged. The enlarged chamber makes it hard for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body.
She is now at the top of a heart transplant waiting list for patients of similar body size.
