This is the success story of Zara, a 7-year-old ‘Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Survivor’. She was diagnosed with a CHD called an Atrial Septal Defect, in which there is a hole that occurs in the septum (wall) that separates the heart’s upper ventricles (chambers).
The hole increases the amount of blood that flows through the lungs. A large, long-standing ASD can damage both the heart and lungs. An ASD is potentially life-threatening and symptoms include breathing difficulties, frequent lung infections, skipped heartbeats etc.
Living in the Khushab District of Pakistan’s Punjab province, an area rich in mineral resources and wild life, Zara was a budding student. One day though, she starting experiencing issues with breathing through her nose. After initially going to an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) Specialist, they were eventually told to visit a cardiologist.
This raised the alarms for her parents and they immediately scheduled a meeting with the relevant doctor who recommended an echocardiography (ECHO), which is a cardiac ultrasound. Unfortunately for the whole family, the results revealed the worst. Zara had a potentially fatal CHD.
To further complicate matters, they were told that the required treatment was relatively expensive and not available in their hometown. Zara’s father, who works as a driver and is the sole breadwinner in a family of 5, needed support to save his daughter’s life.
To search for treatment options, he made his way to Lahore and met a few doctors. One of them informed him about us. Learning about our cause and the fact that we have financially supported 600+ child heart surgeries since inception in 2016, lifted his spirits. He wasted no time in contacting us.
Once we met with the family and evaluated the patient, we were pleased to inform them that we would be able to schedule Zara’s surgery and fully sponsor it. They felt like a huge weight had been lifted off their shoulders.
We initiated all formalities and with the support of our generous donor base, who we are eternally grateful to, we were able to arrange all the funds in practically no time. Zara’s heart surgery was to take place at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital (ULTH) with a brilliant team of CHD healthcare professionals on board.
Preparations for a procedure called an ASD Closure were complete and as Zara went in for surgery, her loved ones were told that they had done everything possible and now was the time to stay strong. They were constantly praying for their Zara’s health.
The hours during which Zara was fighting for her life were undoubtedly the most difficult ones that her family had ever gone through. However, there was light at the end of the tunnel. It was our privilege to share with the parents that their daughter had made it through an unprecedented challenge! She was now a ‘CHD Survivor’.
This was a truly unforgettable moment for everyone in the family, especially Zara’s parents. Their unrivalled happiness was clear as day and they could not wait to go back home together and resume life as normal. At the time of discharge, they left with words of praise for our whole team and wished for Zara to be able to join us one day.
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
