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Hong KongHealth & Environment

Race against time to find donor heart for Hong Kong student

Ma Cheuk-long’s heart function has dropped to one sixth of that of a healthy person and now his parents have made a desperate appeal to find a donor.

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Ma Cheuk-long’s parents appeal for a heart donation for their son at Queen Mary Hospital. Photo: Felix Wong
Elizabeth Cheung

The parents of a dying 20 year old have made a tearful plea for an urgent heart donation to save their son’s life.

A year two anthropology ­student at the Chinese University, Ma Cheuk-long’s heart function has dropped to one sixth of that of a healthy person.

Doctors have said the clock is ticking as if he has a stroke or ­develops an infection, he will become unsuitable for a transplant.

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Now at the top of the city’s transplant list, music lover Cheuk-long, who has been surviving on a mechanical pump for more than a month, will only be able to recover and play piano again with a new heart.

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“We have put a lot of effort in nurturing him … we hope that a kind-hearted person could donate a heart to my son and save him,” said his father, who was only identified as Mr Ma. His son’s blood type is A positive.

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