AN orphaned Chinese boy is to be brought to Dublin later this month by International Orphan Aid for emergency heart surgery.
Mrs Sally Keaveney, cofounder of the voluntary organisation, who will leave for China tomorrow for a 10 day visit, will bring the seriously ill boy with her on her return.
During her visit to Shaanxi province she will see the work which has been sponsored by her organisation including work in progress on a centre for children in Hanzhong. She also will have talks with the Chinese adoption authorities on the adoption of Chinese children by Irish couples.
When she returns on November 28th she will bring the 18 month old orphan boy BiDe (Peter) with her for surgery at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin.
Dr Brian Denham, paediatric cardiologist at the hospital, will be the consultant and the operation will be performed by surgeon, Mr Freddie Wood. Both are acting in a voluntary capacity.
Be-Di, who has five major heart problems which have hampered his normal development, is being cared for in the baby unit funded by International Orphan Aid at Xian in Shaanxi province which is south west of the capital, Beijing.
Mrs Keaveney said it was unbelievable Be-Di had survived for so long in his condition. He will stay with an Irish host family while recuperating. And while there is a possibility he could be adopted by an Irish family, he will have to return to China while the formalities of the adoption are finalised.
"Even if he cannot be adopted by an Irish family, a successful operation will make him adoptable in China. Now he just is too ill for that. One way or another he will have to go back to China even if it is only for the completion of the paperwork and I have had to sign a document to this effect," Mrs Keaveney said yesterday.
While she is looking forward to her first visit to China she expects some parts to be harrowing. Mrs Keaveney will be accompanied by Ms Mary Twomey, who has had considerable experience of orphanages in China, and Mr Richard Walsh, a paedriatic nurse who will look after Be Di on his trip to Ireland which is being funded by Aer Rianta.
Since it was founded in January, International Orphan Aid has raised £700,000 which has been sent to China. As well as helping children in Chinese orphanages, the organisation assists Irish couples adopting from China. It is based at Blackrock, Co Dublin.