Chinese boy born with 31 fingers and toes; parents hope for surgery

Infant has polydactylism, a condition in which people have extra fingers, toes

The boy’s parents are trying to raise enough money for a life-changing surgery

CNN  — 

Meet Hong Hong. He’s almost 4 months old, lives in China and has 31 fingers and toes.

That’s not a typo. The boy was born in January with 15 fingers and 16 toes in Pingjiang County in Hunan province. He also has two palms on each hand and no thumbs.

Doctors diagnosed Hong Hong with polydactylism, a congenital condition that happens in humans, dogs and cats, giving them extra fingers and toes. Polydactyly is a pretty common condition, affecting about one in every 1,000 live births, according to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Often, the extra digits are removed surgically. Hong Hong’s parents are trying to raise enough money so their son can undergo the life-changing operation.

The condition is usually passed down in families, which is the case for Hong Hong.

The boy’s mother also has polydactylism, with six fingers and toes. While she was pregnant with Hong Hong, both parents were worried their child would inherit the condition.

Right now Hong Hong is too young to undergo surgery, the infant’s father, Zou Chenglin, told CNN. In the meantime, his parents are seeking medical advice on how to treat their son.

The mother shows her son's hands. He has 15 fingers, two palms on each hand and no thumbs.

Doctors have given the family differing advice, with some saying the surgery is much more complicated than originally thought because Hong Hong requires not only the removal of his extra fingers and toes but also needs reconstructed thumbs. Opposable thumbs are essential because they give people the ability to grasp objects.

The surgery could cost as much as 200,000 Chinese yuan (about $30,000), the boy’s father said. The couple has turned to the Internet for help, and so far they’ve raised more than 40,000 yuan (more than $6,000) through online donations.

But they’ve decided to halt the crowdfunding efforts because of the mixed comments they’ve received about raising money online, the father said.

For now, the family plans to head back to the city of Shenzhen, where they live, so that the father can go back to work.

Related Posts

Sofyan Amrabat: A Rising Midfield Maestro

Sofyan Amrabat: A Rising Midfield Maestro Introduction: In the dynamic world of football, midfielders often serve as the heartbeat of a team, dictating play with their vision, technique, and tenacity….

Read more

Tyrell Malacia: Manchester United’s Rising Star

Tyrell Malacia: Manchester United’s Rising Star Introduction: In the bustling world of football, young talents often emerge as beacons of hope for their clubs, embodying the promise of a bright…

Read more

Phoenicopteridae: A Fascinating Insight into Flamingos

Phoenicopteridae: A Fascinating Insight into Flamingos Introduction: Phoenicopteridae, commonly known as flamingos, are iconic birds renowned for their vibrant plumage and distinctive behaviors. Belonging to the order Phoenicopteriformes, these elegant…

Read more

The Magnificence of the Peacock: Nature’s Regal Beauty

  The Magnificence of the Peacock: Nature’s Regal Beauty The peacock, renowned for its resplendent plumage and captivating displays, stands as a symbol of beauty and elegance in the avian…

Read more

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Looks: Every Meaning, Easter Egg & Fan Theory

Taylor Swift has officially kicked off her highly anticipated Eras Tour. After two spectacular performances in Arizona (that included a causal 44 songs over 3 hours), we finally got a…

Read more

The Art of the Three Kingdoms: Exploring Five Generals Tattoo Designs

The Art of the Three Kingdoms: Exploring Five Generals Tattoo Designs The Three Kingdoms era of ancient China is not just a pivotal period in history but also a rich…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *