Heart patient gets surprise visit from Yao Ming

An 11-year-old Chinese boy who had life-saving open heart surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston in early September, received a special visit from NBA superstar Yao Ming last week.

Lui Yan, from the Fufeng region in China, was the first person to receive the free heart surgery in Houston under the non-profit HeartGift Foundation. 

Yao, a member of the Houston Rockets and one of China’s most popular athletes, paid a visit to the boy who is recovering at a host family’s home in Sugarland. 

Yan’s surgery was performed by surgeon-in-chief Dr. Fraser Jr., with cardiology care by Dr. Moodie, interim chief of cardiology at Texas Children’s.  

The boy and his mother will return to China on Oct. 7.