Thursday June 25, 2009

Eight-month old’s only hope lies in a liver transplant

By STUART MICHAEL

EIGHT-MONTH-OLD Loke Kai Xin is in need of a liver transplant.

Kai Xin, born on Oct 22 last year, was diagnosed with biliary atresia after developing jaundice when she was only three months old, and her parents have been advised that she should undergo liver transplant surgery at the National University Hospital, Singapore (NUHS).

Biliary atresia is a condition in which the bile produced by the liver cannot flow from the liver to the gall bladder, resulting in liver damage and ultimately, liver failure.

According to Kai Xin’s father, Eric Loke Lee Ping, the only place in Malaysia where liver transplant surgery is carried out is the Selayang Hospital, where the waiting period is a year.

In need of a liver transplant: Lee with Kai Xin. The baby has jaundice and a bloated belly, both signs of liver failure.

“In February, Kai Xin underwent a Kasai procedure (surgical treatment to allow bile from the liver to bypass blocked bile ducts) at the Sunway Medical Centre in Petaling Jaya but it was unsuccessful, and we were advised that a liver transplant was her only remaining option.

“As she was underweight, we were advised by the University Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC) to seek medical help in Singapore,” said Loke, who was with his daughter and wife Lee Huey Jing at the UMSC in Petaling Jaya on Saturday.

“The doctor at NUHS told us that my wife is the most suitable donor.

“However, the medical team at NUHS has not scheduled any tentative date for the operation because Kai Xin’s weight has not reached the minimum requirement of 8kg.

“Kai Xin now weighs about 7kg, and only when she is at least 7.6kg will NUHS arrange a date,” he said.

To help Kai Xin gain weight, she has been warded at the UMSC where she is fed less milk volume but at increased frequency, using a feeding pump at night.

Loke said the liver transplant operation was estimated to cost RM500,000, inclusive of medical treatment like pre-surgery assessment procedures, post-operative care and follow-ups.

It is a sum that the couple cannot bear in full, and as such, they are appealing for help from the public.

A fund has been set up for Kai Xin under Yayasan Sin Chew.

Those who would like to make a contribution may issue a cheque to Yayasan Sin Chew, with the beneficiary’s name, donor’s full name, IC number, complete address and telephone number written on the back. The cheque should be sent to Yayasan Sin Chew at 19, Jalan Semangat, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Yayasan Sin Chew opens from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

For enquiries, call 03-7965 8888 / 03-7965 8675.