Heart Patient Gets Taste of Thanksgiving

Shao-han Deng, a 4-year-old heart patient visiting from China, has plenty of reason to give thanks.

He was born with only one heart ventricle and was not expected to live.

So his father, Yongxin Deng, sent out more than 500 e-mail messages seeking help for his son, nicknamed Shao-Shao, which means laughter in Mandarin. The world responded, eventually bringing the family to the UCLA Children’s Hospital, where the youngster had successful surgery in April.

On Friday, the family gave thanks again--this time to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Officers from the Northeast and Central divisions brought groceries, paper goods and several brightly wrapped packages to the family.

The food was for everybody. The presents, though, were mostly for Shao-Shao.

The youngster, shy only at first, climbed on the lap of the tallest, most formidable looking officer. He wrestled open a box with a yellow “Big Bruiser” truck nearly as large as he was. Next, he ripped open a box with a replica of the space shuttle.

Another box contained a long-sleeved Winnie the Pooh shirt. He got a pair of matching dark blue pants, and blue mittens. He pulled on the mittens and high-fived one of his visitors.

There were also boxes and boxes of food and fresh fruit.

Officers said they brought Thanksgiving a bit early because on Tuesday, Shao-Shao is scheduled to return to the hospital for a heart scan. “That will determine how successful his last surgery was, his present condition, and when he can have his next surgery,” his father said.

Shao-Shao’s mother, Dan Han, said she was very grateful for the unexpected generosity.

Speaking through her husband, she said she thought the police were just coming to visit her son, and that would have been enough. “But they bought so many things for him. We hope that’s not too much for them. They are so nice.”