This is the success story of Amal, a 7-year-old ‘Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Survivor’. She was diagnosed with a CHD called Tetralogy Of Fallot (TOF), in which 4 heart problems occur simultaneously, decreasing the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. It can be fatal if left untreated.
Symptoms include bluish skin colour, developmental delays etc. CHDs such as TOF can be caused by a combination of factors, such as genes or things the mother comes in contact with. It may be diagnosed during pregnancy or shortly after birth.
Around 6 months after birth, signs and symptoms of CHD started appearing in Amal. Her parents, who reside in Sargodha, one of the fastest growing cities in Pakistan, immediately took her for a check-up as they got distressed about their daughter’s health.
The doctor who examined little Amal suspected CHD and recommended an echocardiography (ECHO), a cardiac ultrasound. Once the results came in, it was confirmed that she had TOF. Her parents were informed that she needed life-saving treatment.
They were absolutely devastated and adding to their woes was the fact that they could not afford Amal’s surgery. Their doctor in Sargodha suggested that they visit the prestigious Children’s Hospital in Lahore. However, the waiting list their led to the whole family having to wait for several more years. They almost lost hope but then were told about our organization.
They called and scheduled a meeting with us in which Amal’s father told our team about her fight against CHD. He also mentioned that having a government job and solely supporting his whole family, he was in desperate need of financial support.
Having a remarkable donor base to call upon, we assured him that arranging the required funds would not be a problem. Since inception in 2016, we have financially supported 600+ life-saving child heart surgeries and we were going to ensure that Amal had access to the best treatment options as well.
Once the funds and all other formalities were taken care of, we scheduled Amal’s heart surgery at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital (ULTH) with a world-class team of CHD healthcare professionals on board. The procedure is known as a Total Correction.
As Amal went in for surgery, her loved ones were told that there was nothing to worry about given our years of experience. All they were asked to do was stay strong and pray. Our team was going to do its utmost to ensure that Amal would become a ‘CHD Survivor’.
Following a few very difficult hours in which the highly intricate procedure was taking place, we were delighted to inform Amal’s family that she had defeated CHD! She had emerged a winner after years of fighting for her life and now could look forward to living her dreams.
Her family members were all full of gratitude and appreciation for us. They could not wait to start a normal life with Amal and when it comes to our mission, they wished us all the best and continued success.
1 in 100 children are born with CHD, the world’s most common birth defect. We hope that these stories inspire even more people to contribute towards our cause so that we can continue shaping a brighter future for affected children and their families. We are genuinely leaving no stone unturned for them. Every life matters, every child matters.
Join us on our journey to conquering CHD in Pakistan by donating now towards child heart surgeries or the construction of Pakistan’s first dedicated Children’s Heart Hospital & Research Institute at: https://pchfna.kindful.com/
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#EveryLifeMattersEveryChildMatters #PCHFNA
