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Sibu:  A five-year-old girl needs RM450,000 for urgent liver transplant after four internal bleeding episodes !

Five-year-old Chloe Khoo Ke Xin, who was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia just days after birth, urgently requires a liver transplant after suffering four episodes of internal bleeding over the past five years.

Chloe underwent a Kasai procedure when she was only 20 days old. Although the surgery was initially successful and her condition appeared stable, her health gradually deteriorated. Doctors have now warned that a liver transplant can no longer be delayed, as each episode of internal bleeding has become more severe and life-threatening.

Her father, Khoo Yong Sern , said Chloe was born healthy and was discharged three days after birth. However, after noticing her persistent jaundice and unusually pale stools, further medical examinations confirmed that she had Biliary Atresia.

“Following the Kasai procedure, Chloe initially recovered well. Her jaundice improved and her liver function remained stable. However, she later developed recurring liver infections and ascending cholangitis, resulting in frequent hospital admissions. Whenever she develops a fever or vomiting, she must be hospitalised immediately for intravenous antibiotic treatment, with each admission lasting at least two weeks.” Said Khoo.

Over the past five years, Chloe has been admitted to hospital approximately 20 times, with as many as eight admissions in a single year. During one severe infection, she required six weeks of continuous intravenous antibiotic treatment.

Her first episode of internal bleeding occurred during one of these hospital stays. Since then, she has experienced four episodes of internal bleeding, each more serious than the last. During the most recent episode, she required a blood transfusion to save her life.

“Every bleeding episode comes without warning. The doctors told us we can no longer wait because the next one could be fatal,” said Khoo.

As Chloe’s condition worsened, her family has kept a suitcase permanently packed with her clothes and daily necessities, ready to rush to the hospital whenever her condition suddenly changes.

He shared that Chloe has been under his care since she was a baby, as his wife, See Lin Ling, who is from Sibu, had to leave for overseas to work as a nurse when Chloe was just over one year old in order to support the family’s livelihood.

Although she has been working far from home, she constantly worries about her daughter’s health. Every time she receives news about Chloe’s condition, it is heartbreaking and emotionally overwhelming for her.

As a preschool teacher, he is also working hard to make a living, and together they continue to do everything they can to provide the best care for their daughter.

After waiting ten years to have their only child, Khoo said his greatest wish is simply to see Chloe recover.

“I hope that after the transplant and once she has fully recovered, she can finally enjoy her favourite ice cream without worrying about falling sick,” he said.

CEO of CCEP Foundation, Yvonne Yee, said Chloe first suffered a serious internal bleeding episode during the Lunar New Year last year. Although she recovered after emergency treatment, she has since experienced repeated bleeding, with the fourth episode being the most critical.

“While Chloe’s liver function had remained relatively stable, internal bleeding indicates that her condition has entered a high-risk stage. No one knows when the next bleeding episode will occur, making her situation extremely dangerous,” she said.

Yvonne explained that children who undergo a Kasai procedure are usually monitored as long as their liver function remains stable. However, repeated internal bleeding is a clear indication that an urgent liver transplant is now necessary.

She added that Chloe’s aunt has been identified as the only suitable living liver donor, and the transplant is scheduled to be performed at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, on 19 July.

To save Chloe’s life, her family urgently needs to raise RM450,000 to cover the liver transplant surgery and related medical expenses.