The Star

PETALING JAYA: Tee Hui Yi may not be able to talk just yet but she is already using hand gestures to indicate that she wants the ventilator tube out of her mouth.

The 14-year-old heart transplant patient was doing well and might be unhooked from the ventilator by today, said National Heart Institute heart and lung transplant unit clinical director Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib.

“She is using hand gestures to tell us what she wants and right now, she is indicating that she wants the tube out,” Dr Mohamed Ezani said yesterday.

He said the support that Hui Yi needs during the day-time would be reduced step-by-step to let her practise breathing on her own and increased at night to ensure she gets a good night’s rest.

“We are optimistic (about her recovery) and hope to remove the tube soon,” he added.

Hui Yi, who was previously relying on a 9kg battery-powered mechanical heart, was given a new lease of life when she had not one, but two heart transplants recently.

Her body rejected the first heart but she miraculously received another heart donation within 24 hours and underwent her second transplant on Oct 5.