Hajra’s Success Story
Since inception in 2012, we at Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation (PCHF) have helped fund 3598 life-saving heart surgeries/interventions. This is the success story of 4-year-old Hajra, who was diagnosed with a Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) called an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD).
An ASD is a hole in the wall (septum) between the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart. This hole increases the amount of blood that flows through the lungs. A large, long-standing ASD can damage both the heart and lungs. Symptoms include irregular heartbeats, fatigue, swelling etc.
When Hajra was just 2 years old, she suffered a severe chest infection. After getting it checked by a doctor, her parents were told that she needed an echocardiography, which is an ultrasound of the heart.
Her test results revealed her heart condition for which surgery was recommended. However, as Hajra also had asthma, she had to get that treated first. This lasted for about 2 years. They then started the search for Hajra’s CHD treatment.
They left no stone unturned on their journey, which started in their hometown of Sargodha. Finally, they visited a renowned Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon in Lahore, Dr. Jamal Abdul Nasir, who referred them to us, an organization that has vast experience in the field of CHD.
We provide the highest quality of care for children who are suffering from CHD. Every year, around 60,000 children are born with this potentially life-threatening disease in Pakistan, and a large number of them are from deserving families who are unable to afford the required treatment.
Hajra’s father is a teacher who solely takes care of his entire family, which includes his wife and 2 daughters. Despite being a master’s degree holder in a highly respectable profession, he still needed financial support to save his young daughter’s life. Fortunately, he came to the right place.
When it comes to the required funds, we have an incredible donor base to call upon. These are exceptional individuals and organizations supporting our cause. In Hajra’s case, half of the funds were also admirably arranged by her father.
After the completion of all other hospital-related formalities, Hajra’s surgery was scheduled at our very own world-class Cardiac Care Center at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital (ULTH). This is a facility which is second to none when it comes to treating children with CHD.
With a world-class team of healthcare professionals on board for the surgery, and everything else having been taken care of, preparations were complete. A tremendously testing time for Hajra’s loved ones was about to begin as she went in for the procedure.
Praying continuously for her health, Hajra’s parents were extremely worried. A few hours later, we would be the ones to ease their anguish as they were informed of the surgery being successful. Hajra was now a ‘CHD Warrior’ and her family members could not contain their happiness!
As Hajra was being discharged, her father wished us continued success in all our projects and hoped that just like his daughter, we would save lives of countless others. These are the kind of words that keep inspiring us to be at our absolute best and to be considered genuine life-savers.
For CHD affected families, no matter how hard things get, no matter how impossible things may seem, we 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 (CHHRI), 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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