This is the success story of Subhan, a 3-year-old ‘Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Survivor’. He 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.
After birth, Subhan developed cyanosis (bluish skin colour). His parents, even though they did not know about the extent of the underlying problem, got very worried and rushed him to a local doctor in their hometown of Kasur, a city to the south of the more urban Lahore, which is where our flagship project is being built.
After observing the signs and symptoms of Subhan, his doctor suspected CHD and told the family to go visit the renowned Children’s Hospital Lahore. This is where an Echocardiography (ECHO), which is a cardiac ultrasound, was done and the presence of a life-threatening heart condition was confirmed.
Subhan’s family members were devastated. With this heartbreaking news, their lives had changed in an instant. To further complicate matters, they were told that the required treatment for Subhan was relatively expensive. His father, who works as a labourer and is the sole breadwinner in a family of 5, found it unaffordable.
In dire need of financial support, he started inquiring about treatment options. Eventually, he met someone who told him about our organization. This would turn out to be a life-altering moment for the entire family.
Since inception in 2016, with the support of our generous donor base, we have financially supported over 900 child heart procedures. With years of experience behind us, we are best suited to helping deserving families in Pakistan trying to overcome the challenge of CHD.
Now filled with new hope, Subhan’s father immediately called us to schedule a meeting. Our team told him to come as soon as possible so we could evaluate the case. The family came to Lahore, met with our team and after a quick financial evaluation, they were informed that we would be able to financially support the heart surgery.
This was possible thanks to one of our partners in building hope, Deerfield Foundation. We are grateful beyond measure for their contribution towards our cause which is the reason so many children now have a second chance at living a normal life.
The surgery, a procedure known as a Total Correction, was then arranged at Ittefaq Hospital (Trust) in Lahore. A world-class team of CHD healthcare professionals was on board and all other formalities were swiftly taken care of. Subhan’s family was told that he was in the best of hands.
Following the fight for his life, which was also an extremely distressful time for his loved ones, we were thrilled to inform them that Subhan had overcome CHD! He was now a ‘CHD Survivor’. Their journey from hope to healing was finally at an end.
These were truly special moments filled with happiness for the whole family. They were so thankful to us firstly for helping them cope with their situation and then defeating an unprecedented challenge. May such words continue to drive us on when it comes to achieving our goals.
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
