Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) — Heart transplant patient Tee Hui Yi, 14, is recuperating well at the National Heart Institute and also appears to be more cheerful.

According her mother, Dina Bato Sam Bua, 46, she can move her hands and fingers more actively and is even able to smile although hooked on to a ventilator.

“The ventilator will be removed once the doctor who is caring for Hui Yi, Dr Mohamed Ezani Md. Taib, returns to work after celebrating Hari Raya soon,” Dina said when contacted by Bernama Tuesday.

She added that Hui Yi was also having a much better appetite.

Hui Yi underwent a second heart transplant operation on October 5 after her body rejected the first heart she received on October 3.

– BERNAMA

New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR:

Tee Hui Yi, 14, has been taken off the ventilator after being on it since last Wednesday.
Doctors, who are satisfied with her progress after two heart transplants on Oct 4 and 5, removed the ventilator at 11.35am yesterday.

National Heart Institute consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Pau Kiew Kong said: “She is getting stronger and we hope she will do well with good food and exercise.”

Furthermore, he said, a heart biopsy indicated that her body had not rejected the new heart.

“We will be doing another heart biopsy next week and this will continue for at least six more weeks,” said Dr Pau.
Tee, who also has been fed through a tube since last Wednesday, will now be able to take some soft food.

As for double-lung transplant patient Lang Kong, 39, of Sarawak, Dr Pau said he was doing fine and well into full recovery.

Anyone who wishes to be an organ donor, or donate the organs of a brain-dead relative, can contact the National Organ Transplant Co-ordinating Centre at 03-26942705/704 or 03-26156576, or the toll-free line at 1-800-88-9080.

During the recent balik kampung exodus in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, it was reported that traffic on the North-South Expressway (NSE) was mostly smooth. One main factor could be the contra-flow implemented on the Rawang - Tanjung Malim stretch as well as the opening of the Seremban - Ayer Keroh third lane.

The construction works to upgrade the Rawang - Slim River and Seremban - Ayer Keroh is in progress. While the Seremban - Ayer Keroh stretch is near completion, the Rawang - Slim River stretch progress is rather slow with only the third lane between Tanjung Malim and Rawang (southbound) completed and opened to traffic.

I hope that the entire upgrading works will complete in time for the next balik kampung exodus in conjunction with Chinese New Year early February next year.

While the opening of the third lane between these stretches have contributed to a smoother traffic flow, the authorities should now plan ahead as it is a matter of time before traffic starts building up again on these stretches with more and more cars on the road in the years to come. The West Coast Expressway (WCE) between Taiping and Banting should be completed earlier than scheduled, like the NSE which was completed way 16 months earlier than expected in the 1990s. The WCE would have disperse part of the existing traffic on the NSE to the WCE especially for travellers heading towards the coastal side of Selangor and Perak. Travellers from Taiping and Penang heading towards the KLIA can also use the WCE from Taiping without having to use the NSE after Taiping.

The WCE should also be extended southwards from Banting, linking Port Dickson, Melaka, Muar, Batu Pahat and Johor Bahru. It will again provide another alternative tolled highway to the costal side of Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor.

Implementation of these projects are important to overcome future congestion on the NSE, especially during the Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.