Last August, 13-year-old Fung suffered from a sudden heart failure. For the next six months, he stayed in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and relied on a biventricular assist device to survive. Good news finally came. During Lunar New Year, Fung received a donor heart, which made him HKCH's first heart transplant patient.

After months of rehabilitation, Fung finally went home on a sunny day. "Seeing the trees and flowers outside made me so happy and touched. I have also enjoyed meals with my parents and relatives," Fung said with enthusiasm.

Service Head (Cardiology) Dr Lun Kin-shing explained that the transplant was performed in HKCH as planned, following the translocation of paediatric cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery services from the Queen Mary Hospital. "To prepare for this day to come, we had worked closely with the QMH and Grantham Hospital heart transplant teams, as well as various HKCH units to formulate organ matching workflow and operation logistics."

The eight-hour operation was challenging. Dr Nicholson Yam, Consultant in-charge of Cardiothoracic Surgery said, "Fung had multiple adhesions from his previous open heart surgeries, which made it more difficult to operate. But once the new heart began to beat, I was moved beyond words." Dr Candice Lau, Consultant (Anaesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine) added, "This is the first heart transplant surgery of HKCH. Our nurses came in at 6 a.m. to prepare. We obtained sufficient blood products from the blood bank, and closely monitored his heart function and adjusted medications to keep him stable during the process."

▲HKCH Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiology, Anaesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Pathology; QMH Cardiothoracic Surgery; GH Cardiac Medicine and organ donation coordinator participated in Fung's heart transplant.

Staying fit for the big day

Dr Robin Chen, Consultant in the Cardiology team recalled the days when Fung was waiting for a new heart, "Fung was inserted with multiple tubes and bed-ridden for a long time. Infection risks were high and he was losing muscles. Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and dieticians kept adjusting treatment, exercise regimen and meal plans to help him stay in his best possible shape for the operation."

Said advanced practice nurse Chan Yi-man, "Taking care of patients installed with ventricular assist devices requires special training. Preventing infection is most important. We must also pay attention to every tiny unusual sign. Fung has had a pretty hard time. We all try our best to give him comfort. It is meaningful to walk alongside him through the difficult path."

▲(From right) Dr Nicholson Yam, Dr Lun Kin-shing and Dr Robin Chen explain to Fung and his father about his recovery progress.

Caring healthcare team

Fung thanked all the healthcare staff who have taken care of him, "The nurses are very nice and always concerned if I have any discomfort. They would hold my hand when I am in pain, and chat and play video games with me. Exercising is really not my thing, but the physiotherapist always has her way to motivate me to work harder." He is also grateful to the donor and the family, "I believe it was not an easy decision to make during such a tough time. They are very kind-hearted."

▲Chan Yi-man (front left) and other PICU staff cheer on Fung.

▲Fung made a thank you card for the PICU staff.