Mainland tourist's cardiac arrest in HK sparks community support and fundraising efforts

Ms. Gao, a tourist from Mohe City, Heilongjiang Province, experienced sudden cardiac arrest while traveling in HK on June 18. After a life-and-death rescue, she was brought back from the brink of death.

For over two months, Ms. Gao's condition stabilized, but she remained in a comatose state. Her parents rushed from Mohe to Hong Kong to be by their daughter's side.

Upon learning of the situation, relevant agencies of the Hong Kong SAR government assisted Ms. Gao's parents in contacting the Heilongjiang Association of Hong Kong and the Heilongjiang Economic Cooperation Promotion Association.

Recently, they successfully transferred Ms. Gao from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong to the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Shenzhen for further treatment.

According to Ms. Wu, a staff member from the Heilongjiang Association, Ms. Gao's father has been working temporary jobs to support the family, while her mother is unemployed. With limited education, Ms. Gao, as the only child, is her parents' sole support in their old age.

Due to oxygen deprivation to her brain, Ms. Gao suffered partial bodily dysfunction and underwent surgery. She is in a fragile condition and requires observation and treatment in Hong Kong. The high medical costs and urgent need for recovery have nearly exhausted her parents' savings.

"Upon learning of this situation, we immediately contacted Ms. Gao's parents to understand their urgent need to raise funds for cross-border medical transport and to transfer her to a hospital in Shenzhen as soon as possible," Ms. Wu stated.

To gather the necessary funds for Ms. Gao's transfer and subsequent rehabilitation, the association quickly launched a fundraising campaign on WeChat, which received strong support from members, political consultative committee members, and caring individuals from all walks of life. Within just 24 hours, the funds raised exceeded the expected target.

Additionally, the Shenzhen Heilongjiang Chamber of Commerce actively responded to the call from the Heilongjiang Association in Hong Kong and initiated its fundraising efforts, with the collected funds set to be transferred to Ms. Gao's parents.

During their stay in Hong Kong, Ms. Gao's parents faced significant challenges, particularly the language barrier, as they did not understand Cantonese. Coming from a border town, their accents made communication even more difficult.

Fortunately, agencies of the Hong Kong SAR government, medical staff at the hospital, and members of the Heilongjiang Association provided patient assistance and abundant support, allowing Ms. Gao's parents, who had no relatives in Hong Kong, to feel the warmth and love from the community deeply.

As they prepared for their daughter's transfer, Ms. Gao's parents expressed their gratitude, saying, "Our daughter fell seriously ill in Hong Kong, and in our most helpless moments, it was the love and selfless contributions from these organizations that helped us. We will always remember this kindness in our hearts!"

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