This is the success story of Zainab, a 7-year-old ‘Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Survivor’. She was diagnosed with a CHD called a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), in which there is a hole that occurs in the septum (wall) that separates the heart’s lower ventricles (chambers) and allows blood to pass from the left to the right side of the heart.
The oxygen-rich blood then gets pumped back to the lungs instead of out to the body, causing the heart to work harder. A VSD is potentially life-threatening, and symptoms include shortness of breath, frequent respiratory infections, paleness etc.
Growing up in Waziristan, a mountainous region in Pakistan’s northernmost province of KPK, Zainab used to regularly experience symptoms of CHD. As these persisted, her parents took her to a local doctor for a medical check-up. Not aware of the possibility and severity of CHD at all, their lives were about to change drastically.
Zainab’s parents were asked to get her an echocardiography (ECHO), which is a cardiac ultrasound. When the results of this test came in, her heart condition was revealed. Her parents were told that this was potentially life-threatening and that Zainab needed treatment as soon as possible. This news left them absolutely devastated.
Adding to their woes was when they were informed that the procedure needed to save Zainab’s life was relatively expensive. Her father, who supports a family of 6, was in desperate need of financial support.
After searching for various treatment options, a friend of Zainab’s father told him to call us. This friend’s child had been treated through our organization and when it came to his experience with us, he was full of praise.
Zainab’s father was thrilled to hear about us and he felt genuinely hopeful now. He now knew about a premier organization in the field of CHD that has financially supported 600+ child heart surgeries and could also save his daughter’s life.
He contacted us immediately and after listening to the case, we informed him that his daughter would get the best possible treatment through us. The required funds would also be arranged through our exceptional donor base, both organizations and individuals who believe in our cause.
Zainab’s father, commendably, also arranged part of the required funds. Once that and all other formalities were taken care of, the surgery was scheduled at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital (ULTH) with a highly experienced team of CHD healthcare professionals on board.
The procedure that Zainab had to undergo is called a VSD Closure. Before she went in for surgery, her parents were assured that she was in the best of hands. The following few hours however, were understandably going to be the hardest of their lives.
During Zainab’s heart surgery, all her loved ones were praying for its success and hoping that she would emerge as a ‘CHD Survivor’. Once the procedure was complete, that is exactly what happened and we were delighted to tell them that Zainab had defeated CHD!
The path to a better future was now on the horizon for the entire family as Zainab would now be able to live a completely normal life filled with special moments. At the time of discharge, her parents mentioned how happy they were with their whole experience and that they would remain eternally grateful to us for everything we had done for them.
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/
#SuccessStory #CHDSurvivor #VSD
#EveryLifeMattersEveryChildMatters #PCHFNA
