Chinese baby born with 31 fingers, toes; parents appeal for help

Photo shows a case of polydactylism. INQUIRER STOCK PHOTO

A couple in Hunan, China, is appealing for financial help for their three-month-old son who is suffering from a genetic disorder called polydactylism.

The boy, named Hong Hong, was born with 31 fingers and toes–eight fingers on his left hand, seven on his right, and eight toes on each of his foot. Moreover, he has two palms on both hands.

Apparently, the genetic disorder is hereditary because the boy’s mother also suffers from the same disorder, having one extra finger on her toes and feet. But this did not deter her from taking a job as a textile worker in a factory in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, according to a report by The Telegraph.

The boy’s father, Zou Chenglin, said in a report published by the People’s Daily that he had asked his wife to undergo a medical examination when she got pregnant with Hong Hong to check if their first-born might inherit the disorder.

“My wife has one extra finger and toe on each of her hands and feet, so we were worried that our child would inherit the condition,” the report quoted Chenglin as saying, adding the doctors who examined his wife assured them there was nothing to worry about. That assurance proved wrong when Hong Hong was born.
 

The couple visited a dozen hospitals in their area and learned that polydactylism can be treated through surgeries while the baby is still young. The medical procedures so far performed on Hong Hong have cost his parents between $15,500 and $77,000.

Now, they are appealing for financial assistance to generous donors so the remaining surgeries can be done on their son within the next nine months. Gianna Francesca Catolico