KUALA LUMPUR: Like all year-old babies, Woon Jia Xin likes to bite things -- even her own fingers. But unlike other babies who don't bite till it hurts, Jia Xin bites till she bleeds.

Jia Xin does not have any feeling in her right arm and so does not know when to stop.

Her mother, Lai Chow Ming, 38, from Petaling Jaya, said Jia Xin was diagnosed with nerve damage in the right shoulder after her delivery through a vacuum-assisted procedure on July 9 last year.

Lai said she was very unhappy with her gynaecologist who did not warn her during prenatal checks that she might have problems delivering because of the baby's big shoulders.

When she noticed that Jia Xin had an abnormal right arm, Lai returned to the hospital but was told that her baby would have full use of the arm within a year. One year later, Jia Xin lost the ability to use her right arm.
Speaking at a press conference called by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong here yesterday, Lai recounted how after she kicked up a fuss during her post-delivery check-up, the hospital did a magnetic resonance imaging scan and it showed the nerve damage.

"After many complaints, we were referred to University Malaya Medical Centre. I have engaged a lawyer to look into the matter. I just want my daughter to recover the use of her right arm.

"Jia Xin is undergoing physiotherapy at a private centre three times a week and it costs about RM1,000 a month. Now, she can slightly lift her right arm."









Chong said with physiotherapy, the recovery rate was 76 per cent.

He said he would be approaching the Chinese embassy for help to send Jia Xin for treatment in China.

"Meanwhile, we are helping to raise RM100,000 needed for Jia Xin's treatment.

"Her family cannot afford the expensive treatment as her father, Woon Kim Leong, 37, is a welder and her mother is a clerk."

Cheques should made payable to MCA Public Services and Complaints Department with Jia Xin's name written on the back, and sent to the department, c/o Michael Chong, 7th floor, Wisma MCA, 163 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.

For details, call Susan Lai at 03-21615678.