Urgent appeal for heart donation to save family man

Wallis Wang

The Hospital Authority has made an urgent appeal for heart donors to save the life of a 50-year-old man at Queen Mary Hospital whose heart is only functioning at 20 percent.

The patient, Chan Wai-ho, has blood type O+.

He was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, when he was just 10 years old.

In 2004, he had to undergo the implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator due to irregular heartbeat, and was added to the heart transplant waiting list in 2018 after suffering from intermittent heart failure.

In June, Chan's condition deteriorated, with him experiencing shortness of breath and loss of appetite. He was admitted to Grantham Hospital, but medications failed to improve his state.

Chan was then transferred to Queen Mary Hospital, where doctors implanted assist devices in both of his ventricles.

As of last Wednesday, Chan's heart is only functioning at 20 percent, and he is now at the top of the heart transplant waiting list for patients with the same blood type and body figure.

Chan has expressed that his condition has worsened since last year, with doctors warning that he "could die anytime."

Chan said: "I have to stay in bed and can't do anything. I know my family members are in pain."

His family lives in Tuen Mun, and his wife has to commute from Yau Ma Tei to Pok Fu Lam daily to visit him at Queen Mary Hospital, sometimes taking a taxi.

Chan tearfully shared that he used to be able to enjoy simple activities like going out for meals or shopping with his family, but these are now impossible.

"No matter what the result is, it is my fate. I dare not have many expectations but I'd be so happy if I could get out of the hospital and live a normal life," Chan said.

The Hospital Authority has called on citizens to consider donating the heart of their recently deceased family members to save Chan's life.

The authority will also seek assistance from the mainland to look for an available heart for transplantation.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com