Yang Yi-Xin, a 16-year-old overseas Chinese teenager from the Golden Triangle region of Northern Thailand, has always loved basketball. However, his congenital pectus excavatum severely limited his cardiopulmonary function, drastically affecting his quality of life. In October 2024, with the support of many caring individuals and organizations, he traveled to Taiwan and underwent surgery at Chiayi Christian Hospital (CYCH). After the procedure, he regained both health and confidence. Now, he can finally sleep soundly and looks forward to enjoying his mother’s curry and playing a full game of basketball.
Yi-Xin’s father, Mr. Yang Chong-Ming, shared that the family lives in the Golden Triangle. His son was diagnosed with pectus excavatum at an early age. Local doctors once advised that the condition might improve naturally as he grew, but over the years, not only did it fail to improve, his breathing worsened and he fatigued easily. Yi-Xin gradually lost interest in activities. Two years ago, however, a basketball coach noticed his potential and encouraged him to try the sport. Yi-Xin fell in love with basketball, began competing in games, and regained confidence.
Yet the condition continued to haunt him. Each time he played basketball, he could last no more than 10 minutes before becoming breathless and having to leave the court. The sunken chest wall grew more severe, disrupting his sleep, leaving him exhausted during the day, and causing his grades to plummet. At school, where classrooms were spread across multiple floors, he often struggled up the stairs, gasping for breath, watching helplessly as his classmates rushed ahead.
Dr. Gan Jin-Kang, thoracic surgeon at CYCH, explained that pectus excavatum is a congenital chest wall deformity that compresses the heart and lungs, impairing respiratory function. The condition is named for the abnormal depression in the chest wall, resembling a funnel that could hold water. While its exact cause remains unknown, the severity, location of the deformity, and the patient’s symptoms are all factors in determining whether surgery is necessary. Surgical treatment can significantly improve cardiopulmonary function, enhance appearance, and reduce psychological stress.
Following the surgery, Yi-Xin was overjoyed:
“I can finally sleep well. I can’t wait to go home, eat my mom’s green curry, and play basketball to my heart’s content!”
Dr. Gan added that on average, 1 in every 300–400 people has pectus excavatum, with males being about four times more likely to develop the condition than females. He encouraged parents to seek medical evaluation early if they notice chest wall deformities in their children, to avoid missing the optimal treatment window.
Dr. Chen Chun-He, Director of International Medical Center at CYCH, highlighted that the Golden Triangle is a challenging environment. Mr. Yang works as a teacher in a local drug rehabilitation village and cares for many orphans affected by narcotics. Despite his own financial struggles, he never gave up. Deeply moved by their story, CYCH recognized that traveling abroad for treatment was a heavy burden for the family. This time, not only did Dr. Gan donate his surgical fees, but hospital staff also made voluntary contributions, and many from the broader community generously provided assistance—making it possible for Yi-Xin to successfully undergo surgery and reclaim his health.
