Hong Kong hospital throws party for sick children, offering Christmas hope

Two-year-old Nathan Chiu Sheung-lai spent Christmas outside a Hong Kong hospital ward for the first time with his parents on Wednesday.

Nathan, who has been diagnosed with a genetic disease known as CHARGE syndrome, has spent most of his young life in the neonatal intensive care unit. He had his first surgery to unblock his nasal passages just 10 days after his birth.

The disease affects many parts of the body, including the heart, nerves, genitals, eyes and ears.

Nathan, who had difficulty breathing, was reliant on a ventilator until he underwent a tracheotomy in March, which finally allowed him to breathe on his own and be discharged.

“We are very happy that he can spend Christmas at home this year and enjoy the festivities across the city,” said his mother, May Wong.

Nathan and his parents attended a Christmas party organised by Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital at Sandy Bay in Pok Fu Lam on Wednesday.