Parents of a young boy born with a total of 31 digits – 15 fingers and 16 toes – have appealed for help.Little Hong Hong was born in China three months ago with an extreme form of polydactylism.The condition is characterised by extra fingers or toes and in Hong Hong’s case he also has two palms, but no thumbs on either hand.The youngster was born to two migrant workers from the village of Zhongping, in Pingjiang County in central Hunan Province.
Zou Chenglin, Hong Hong’s dad, said his wife, who works in a factory in Shenzhen City, in southern Guangdong Province, also has the genetic disorder.
Zou said: “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.
“But after going to three big hospitals in Shenzhen, doctors found no birth defects on our son during scans.”
The couple had a huge shock when Hong Hong was born with seven fingers on his right hand and eight on his left, with eight toes on each of his feet.
Zou said the family has since been to a dozen hospitals and the family were relieved to know that Hong Hong can be operated on when he is between six months and a year old.
The surgery could cure the polydactylism and give the boy a chance at a normal childhood.
But the family are unable to raise the 100,000 to 500,000 RMB (£10,600 to £53,000) required for the operation and the post-op recovery.
The parents are now trying to reach out to local charities and is hoping that the public will extend a helping hand.