Complicated Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD). 

Seven or eight out of 1000 newborns suffer from CCHD.

Each year, more than 40,000 children receive congenital heart disease surgeries. About 20% of these children are afflicted with CCHD.

This misfortune comes quietly around every corner of the world

So do sadness and tears.

After she was diagnosed with CCHD, Little Mei was abandoned, but fortunately she was taken into a welfare institution. What waited for her was not only hope for life but also motherly love she needed to thrive.

01.

The most effective prescription for a disease is hope

In Nov 2020, Little Mei was brought into CCH and prepared for a surgery. Seeing the quiet little girl lying in her crib, Mama Chen’s eyes welled up with tears. The little one would soon undergo a surgery. How could she bear the pain after the anesthetic wears off?  

Mei’s first surgery went well. Mama Chen stayed by her bedside, imagining what she would say the moment she’d wake up and how happy she would be when playing with her little friends again. Unexpectedly, Mei was so fragile that she caught a fever and was moved to the ICU. 

For two months straight, Mama Chen gave Mei the most nurturing care and paid close attention to each of her subtle expressions and small movements. She was burnt out.  “Everyone has his/her own destiny. Don’t take it too hard,” her loved ones comforted her.

Instead of “letting it go”, Mama Chen was determined that she would never give Mei up until the moment she had to. There was a time when Mei took a sudden unfavorable turn and was given an IV infusion. Mama Chen spent two sleepless days and nights with her. At some point, she had the illusion that the infusion bottle was getting empty so she rushed to the nurse station. When the nurse found out that the bottle was actually half full, she said to Mama Chen, whose eyes were all dark circled: “You need take a rest. Mei would get better.”

Day in and day out, Mei was finally out of danger and discharged from the hospital. Mama Chen came to pick her up with a bag of snacks. She went over to Mei’s bed, bent down and said: “Mei, Mama is here for you. Let’s go home.”

Mei was still so weak that she couldn’t open her eyes or speak a word. But love never fails. At the words of Mama Chen, Mei’s eyelashes kept batting feebly and her little hands tried to reach up, a sign that she was talking to her mama. At that moment, tears rolled down Mama Chen’s cheeks, tears of happiness and love.  

02.

Want a life of happiness

Mama Chen put Mei in an independent room of CCH and sanitized the room every day. Two mamas took shifts to take care of Mei around the clock. Each day, she took a lot of medicine, and struggled with nebulization and sputum suction.

Sputum suction was the most torturous for Mei. When the tube wormed its way into her throat, she fought hard against it. Mama Chen shed tears and said：“Mei，hang in there. When your sputum is sucked out, you’ll feel better. Mama will always be here for you. Give me a chance to watch you grow up.” Each time Mei was done with sputum suction, she threw herself into Mama Chen’s arms and cried out aloud. Mama Chen held her tight, softly kissing, patting and consoling her.   

03.

Give her loving care all the time

Over time, Mei started to rehabilitate. Mama Chen kept her spirits up, and once she identified any changes of Mei, she reported to the doctor. Under the nurturing care of Mama Chen, Mei started to take noodle and rice paste. Sometimes, she even had small pieces of fruits and snacks, which made her giggle out loud. 

Now, Mei’s cheeks are getting plumper. She has more strength and does great in sitting, rolling and lying down. She is able to stand up with support from the crib rail and occasionally stand independently for a little while. She often pretends to give her toy bear nebulization the way Mama Chen does her. Seeing the little sunshine girl blossoming like a flower, Mama Chen can’t be too happy.

Someone says that Mei is a miracle. At these words, Mama Chen smiled and said: “When I first saw Mei, I was touched by her desire to survive. She was so tough that she got over all her suffering and misery. I have been fortunate to witness the power of her life, and I hope I can continue to nurture this wonderful life with love.”