Down syndrome baby Xiao Feng is only one year and four months old, but needs urgent help. - Photo: Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia
PETALING JAYA: Down syndrome baby Xiao Feng, a child at the Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia, is only one year and four months old but needs urgent help.
Since birth, his heart has been left with a blood vessel issue, which is called Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA).
Because the heart cannot close on its own, blood continuously flows backward, causing the heart to carry an excessive burden over time.
To ensure Xiao Feng can grow up healthy, doctors have recommended urgent PDA closure surgery. The total cost required is RM40,000.
If this vessel is not treated, Xiao Feng will face ongoing risks: Heart overload, potentially leading to heart enlargement and declining heart function; Recurrent lung infections, prone to wheezing and breathing difficulties; Poor stamina, slow weight gain, affecting overall development; and Long-term delays may even lead to serious complications like pulmonary hypertension and heart failure.
For a child already with Down syndrome, it means the child is already more vulnerable to PDA, and these risks are significantly higher.
This procedure does not require open-heart surgery. Doctors will use a catheter-based approach to place a small device, safely closing the extra vessel, and allowing blood to flow normally again.
After the surgery is completed, Xiao Feng will experience a significantly reduced heart burden and have better stamina to continue growing.
"We hope the public can assist us in helping little Xiao Feng. Every little help is precious assistance to ensure Xiao Feng has a better future," said Susan Ng, an officer with Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia. "We sincerely invite kind hearts to extend a helping hand, and together help this young child walk toward a more stable and safe future."
Those who wish to know more about the patient situation can contact the person in charge, SUSAN NG (Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia) at 0143323960 or email susanng3960@gmail.com
