Asawera’s Success Story
Since inception in 2012, we at Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation (PCHF) have helped fund 4,241 life-saving child heart surgeries. This is the success story of 5-year-old Asawera who was diagnosed with a Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) called a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD).
A VSD is a birth defect in which there is a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the 2 upper chambers (ventricles) of the heart. This leads to extra blood being pumped into the lungs and forces the heart to work harder. If this is not repaired the risk of heart failure or other complications like a stroke increases.
Asawera was taken to a children’s hospital in Mardan, KPK when signs and symptoms of CHD started to appear in her as an infant. Her family initially had no idea why she kept on getting ill.
Following her medical check-up, an Echocardiography (ECHO), which is a cardiac ultrasound, was recommended. Her doctor suspected CHD and the results of the test confirmed it. Her family was shocked to the core and could not believe what was happening.
To make matters worse, they were told that the treatment was not available there and they would have to go to Peshawar. That is where they also learned that the required procedure to save Asawera’s life was quite expensive and one that they could not afford.
Asawera’s father has passed away and the entire family, which consists of her mother, 2 brothers and 5 sisters, lives of the pension of their deceased father. They were in desperate need of financial support and their search eventually led them to Bahria International Hospital Orchard (BIHO) Lahore.
BIHO Lahore is one of our partner hospitals where child heart treatment takes place and the doctors there suggested that the family schedule a meeting with PCHF. They immediately contacted us and after that initial meeting, they felt like a ray of hope had entered their lives.
We told them that we would do everything in our power to save Asawera’s life and being blessed with a remarkable donor base, both organizations and individuals who believe in our cause, the required funds were arranged fairly quickly. Inspiringly, the family also managed to contribute a significant amount.
The heart surgery was then scheduled at BIHO Lahore with a world-class team of doctors and allied healthcare professionals on board. Her whole family was there as an incredible support system for her.
As she went in for surgery, her family was told that she was in the very best of hands. A few tremendously difficult hours later, we felt blessed to be the ones to inform them that Asawera had defeated CHD! She was now a ‘CHD Warrior’.
Her family was delighted beyond measure and this was undoubtedly a pivotal moment in their lives. They were visibly overcome with emotion and all they had for us was their kind words of appreciation. As they left, they wished us continued success in all our projects.
For CHD affected families, no matter how hard things get, no matter how impossible things may seem, we at PCHF – charity you can trust with all your heart, are here for you. Our goal is to ensure that not a single child born with CHD in Pakistan remains untreated.
Legendary Pakistani cricketer, Misbah Ul Haq, is also alongside us on our journey to conquering CHD, by helping build the nation’s first dedicated Children’s Heart Hospital & Research Institute, as a PCHF Board Member.
You can join us as well and donate towards child heart treatment or hospital construction. Together, let’s do our utmost to save young lives and help shape a brighter future. Play your part, save little hearts: https://pchf.org.pk/donate/
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