'Mechanical Heart' Girl Undergoes Heart Transplant At IJN

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- "Mechanical heart" girl Tee Hui Yi, who received a donor heart Wednesday, underwent a heart transplant at the National Heart Institute (IJN) here this afternoon.
She was operated on by a team of heart surgeons, assisted by special nurses, since 10pm last night.
After spending the last 12 months at IJN and surviving with the help of a mechanical heart, the 14-year-old received the heart from a 15-year-old donor who was killed in a road accident in Ipoh yesterday.
A 13-member medical team comprising heart surgeons and special nurses were flown to Ipoh Hospital last night to operate on the donor to retrieve his heart, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek told reporters.
The donor not only donated his heart but also his lungs, liver and kidneys with the consent of his family, he told reporters after being briefed on Tee's heart transplant by IJN's Chief Executive Officer Razif Mohd Yunus and Medical Director Datuk Seri Dr Roba'ayah Zambahari.
Dr Chua said the donor's lungs were also transplanted on a 39- year-old patient.
"Two transplants were done simultaneously today. I can imagine how a dead person can save many patients who are waiting for organs," he said.
Dr Chua said Tee's heart transplant was quite risky as she has been hooked to a mechanical heart powered by a 9kg battery since a year ago.
"Since she has been waiting for a donor heart for too long, it has affected her health and appetite," he said.
The Batu Pahat-born teenager has been appealing for a donor heart since a year ago as the life span of her mechanical heart will expire in September next year.
Dr Chua said he was happy Tee finally received a heart donour and was thankful to the donor's family who set a very good example in the country.
"The family members have asked the donor's name be kept confidential. We respect their wish.
"The donor's family is exemplary. They have noble intentions when they agreed to donate the organs. I hope Malaysians realise if there are no donors, many patients awaiting organs will die," he said.
Dr Chua said it was disheartening that despite many fatal accidents occurring in the country every year, the number of organs saved for donation was negligible due to disagreement from victims' families.
The nation needs about 1,200 kidneys, 450 hearts, 450 corneas and 200 livers a year to save patients' lives, he said.
Thanking the media for the extensive publicity given to Tee's plight, the minister said the publicity blitz had indirectly created awareness among the people on the importance of organ donation.
Dr Chua said his ministry would intensive promotions to boost public awareness on organ donation, particularly in convincing family members or the donor's next-of-kin, many of whom are opposed to organ donation.
He said every single procedure in signing up as an organ donor or as a recipient would be done professionally and according to ethics.
"One of the problems faced by the ministry is that though many pledge to donate their organs, when they die, their family members object.
"Up to June, 108,000 people have pledged to donate their organs. Nevertheless, only 25 people donated due to family objections at the last minute," he said.

tunku : Thanks to Allah , at last one live could be save. Al Fatihah to the donor who died in a road accident. More and more malaysian should donate their organs should they die.Thanks to the family of the donor who consent it.