Nu Skin China Children's Heart Fund Monthly Report ( June 2009)

Nu Skin China Children's Heart Fund was created in late 2008 to address the more than 140,000 new cases of children suffering from congenital heart disease each year in China, as well as the 2 million children who are awaiting surgery. To date the organization has raised more than US$222,300, providing relief to more than 80 children.

One of these children, Ziyang from Haimen City in Jiangsu Province of Mainland China, was diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta shortly after birth. This narrowing of the main artery limits the amount of oxygen-rich blood that can be supplied to the body and causes serious strain to the heart. With a minimal monthly income, the Ziyang family could not afford the necessary surgery, and despite their best efforts they were unable to borrow or raise the money. Thanks to a donation from the Nu Skin China Children's Heart Fund, Ziyang is now seven months old and is looking forward to a long and healthy life.

Chenyi, a five-year-old girl from Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province of Mainland China is another recipient of aid from the Nu Skin China Children's Heart Fund. Since she was little, she regularly suffered from respiratory infections and could not participate in exercise due to asthma-like symptoms. Chenyi was diagnosed with pectus excavatum, a congenital deformity of the chest wall that can impair cardiac and respiratory functions. Medical experts recommend that this deformity be corrected between five and twelve years of age, during a child's optimal time for skeletal modification. The medical costs to repair Chenyi's condition were such that her parents' planned to postpone her surgery until they were able to save enough money. The Nu Skin China Children's Heart Fund funded her surgery, allowing her to fully recover and enjoy her childhood activities.

Guanghua from Jiangxi, is an eight-month-old baby boy blessed with optimistic and gracious parents. The Guanghuas were already deeply in debt due to medical bills for Guanghua's ill grandmother, however, they are continually found offering comfort to other families dealing with sickness and loss. Guanghua suffered from a pulmonary artery sling that caused severe respiratory difficulties by squeezing the airflow in his trachea. The condition is nearly always fatal if not repaired, however the cost of surgery was far beyond their means. The Nu Skin China Children's Heart Fund granted funding to the family for Guanghua's surgery. "It's a blessing from heaven!" Guanghua's dad said gratefully. "When my son grows up, I will tell him to remember that Nu Skin saved his life when he was a baby."