Charities fund toddler's heart operation
A THREE-YEAR-OLD mainland boy with a hole in his heart will soon receive the operation he needs to live longer, thanks to Hong Kong-based charities.
Mental Handicap Network China was arranging for Li Jian Shun to come to Hong Kong and the Keswick Foundation had agreed to help pay for the operation, said network co-founder Brian Stratford.
The boy's parents, who live in Guangzhou, could not afford the operation in China and Hong Kong was the obvious option.
Doctors at Princess Margaret Hospital had agreed to perform the operation if they deemed it safe, Mr Stratford said.
The toddler, who has Down's syndrome, is expected to arrive within weeks, once a two-way permit has been arranged. Without the operation, he would live only a few more years, said his father, Li Yonghang.
'When we found out he had such a serious heart condition six months ago we thought there was no solution. We thought we would try to borrow the money or work as hard as we could to come up with the money,' Mr Li said.
Network officials also hope others will help pay for the costs.
