Chinese Patient Story: Chen Qirong

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China, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, HeartLink Gala, Patient

In 1999, Chen Qirong’s life moved at a slower pace than those of his first grade classmates. He was small and overwhelmed by perpetual fatigue. Qirong could not run or play with his friends – he preferred to sit still and save his energy.

Days after his sixth birthday, Qirong’s mother took him to the doctor for a routine physical. She mentioned her concerns about her son – that he seemed weak, tired and was always slouched over. Following the exam, the doctor explained the source of Qirong’s lethargy. Qirong had a heart murmur. The doctor ordered a cardiac echo exam, which revealed a congenital Atrial Septal Defect. Qirong had a 13-millimeter hole in his heart and required surgery to correct it.

The diagnosis caused months of dismay for the Chen family. With a yearly combined income of approximately $200, Qirong’s parents could not afford to pay $1,000 for his surgery. The family began saving money, but as the months went by, their situation seemed hopeless. It would take years to save enough for the surgery.

Yet, Qirong did not have years to wait. While most U.S. patients are diagnosed and treated for Atrial Septal Defects shortly after birth, Qirong was nearly seven-years-old, an advanced age for surgery. His young heart was already showing signs of enlarging, a common occurrence when the heart is forced to work harder to overcome a flaw in its construction.

Qirong with his parents

Around the same time that the Chen family was struggling with Qirong’s diagnosis, Children’s HeartLink was preparing for its first cardiac training visit to the First Hospital of Lanzhou University (FHLU) in Lanzhou, China. Children’s HeartLink was invited by FHLU to provide opportunities for advanced training on pediatric cardiac surgical procedures for the local cardiac team. Fortunately, Qirong was selected as one of the patients to receive surgery under the knowledgeable hands of Dr. Demetre Nicoloff.

Today, Qirong is a healthy and active 19-year-old college student with an extraordinary story. He is one of our guests of honor at the HeartLink Gala on Friday, September 21 at the Hilton Minneapolis. Join us!