This year Chi Fan for Charity Shanghai, organized by Austen Morris Associates, had the privilege of helping three more children get their surgeries through Heart to Heart Shanghai. Austen Morris Associates Business Development Manager Matthew Arnold, Business Development Manager Yogesh Bhambhani and Marketing Executive Connie Li had the opportunity to visit the hospital with Chi Fan for Charity organizer Katie Littlefield and Heart to Heart’s Lenel Roux.
The first child we got to visit growth was stunted after birth and often suffered from colds and fevers, which led doctors to diagnose him with CHC. His grandfather is a farmer while his father works at a factory. His mother has been staying home to care for him however plans on working with the father once the child has recovered from the donated surgery to help pay for the families already acquired debt of 50,000 RMB.
The second child was diagnosed with CHD at birth. The possibility of self-healing led doctors to suggest that he wait before getting the surgery. Three-years later, and still sick, his family has been given the opportunity to heal his heart with the donated surgery from Chi Fan for Charity. His father and mother are both unemployed to care for him and due to an incident in 2006 causing cranial problems for the mother. The family is now 60,000 RMB in debt and would never have had the opportunity to pay for the sick child’s surgery.
The third child is a seven month old baby who was diagnosed with CHD soon after his birth. His family comes from generations of farmers who currently earn around 7,000 RMB annual household income. His father is now working on a construction site and earns about 2000 RMB, while his mother is unemployed because of a learning disability. She takes care of herself and the children, but cannot do regular housework. The family is currently 30,000 RMB in debt and they cannot afford surgery on their own.
We are lucky to have been able to contribute to the future of these Chinese children’s lives and look forward to the continued partnership.
