6-month-old Hana needs funds for urgent liver transplant

Free Malaysia Today

22-05-2025

Hana Chin, who has been diagnosed with biliary atresia, needs to undergo a liver transplant within the next three months. (CCEP Foundation pics)
PETALING JAYA : At just six months old, Hana Chin is already fighting for her life. She has been diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare disease in which the bile ducts in her liver are blocked. This causes bile to build up, damaging the liver beyond repair.
To survive, baby Hana urgently needs a liver transplant – a procedure that comes with the daunting cost of RM250,000 for her family.
Her mother, Toy Ka Wei, recalls how this harrowing journey began. 'When she was born, I was overjoyed. I remember holding her for the first time, watching her tiny fingers wrap around mine,' Toy said.
Like all new mothers, Toy thought she had a lifetime ahead with her firstborn. But just weeks later, her world came crashing down.
After completing her confinement period, Toy took her daughter in for routine vaccinations. It was then that a nurse noticed Hana was visibly jaundiced.
'At first, I thought it was the usual newborn yellowing,' Toy said. A subsequent blood test revealed her bilirubin levels were far higher than they should be for her age.
'We were then told her liver was likely inflamed. We were referred from one hospital to another and, after more tests, the doctors gave us the diagnosis: biliary atresia.'
When she was only 48 days old, Hana underwent her first major surgery, known as the Kasai procedure, to help her liver drain bile and prevent further damage.
Sadly, the surgery didn't work – and Hana's liver is now deteriorating fast.
'The doctors have told us we only have a window of three months to get her the lifesaving liver transplant she needs. Any longer and her condition may become too severe for surgery,' said Toy.
'The thought of losing her before she even learns to walk or say her first word breaks me,' she added.
Hana's parents are urgently appealing for help to raise RM250,000 for her liver transplant. (CCEP Foundation pic)
Thankfully, Toy has been identified as a compatible donor for her daughter. Hana has been referred to Renji Hospital in Shanghai, a leading paediatric transplant centre with one of the highest success rates in the world.
However, the cost – which covers surgery, pre-operative tests and post-operative care – is beyond what the family can afford.
'My husband works in customer service, earning around RM6,000 a month, and we are now relying solely on his salary. With our daughter's growing medical needs, we're struggling to make ends meet,' Toy shared.
She explained that she had to stop working after her daughter was born to care for her full-time. 'What started as maternity leave became a daily commitment of managing her feeds, medication, and hospital appointments.
'Now that she's critically ill and hospitalised, I'm by her side every day and I can't imagine being anywhere else.'
To raise the funds, they have the help of CCEP Foundation, an NGO that helps the poor, needy, deprived and underprivileged.
According to its CEO, Yvonne Yee, fundraising began on May 17, and as of May 20, they have successfully raised RM30,000. Much more is needed, and time is of the essence.
'We are humbly reaching out to ask for your help. Your donation, no matter the amount, will go directly towards giving my daughter the medical treatment she urgently needs to survive,' Toy concluded.
To help Hana, donations can be made directly to CCEP Foundation, RHB Bank account number 2621 9300 009 342. Please use the reference 'Hana Chin'.
If you require a receipt, kindly send a WhatsApp message.
Learn more about CCEP Foundation here, or contact 03-7955 9999 / 010-279 8849.