Haris’s Success Story
Since inception in 2012, we at Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation (PCHF) have helped fund 4056 life-saving child heart surgeries. This is the success story of 2-year-old Haris, who was diagnosed with a Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) called Tetralogy Of Fallot (TOF).
In TOF, 4 related heart defects affect blood flow. In most cases, too little blood goes to the lungs. Low-oxygen blood then circulates to the rest of the body and not enough oxygen can reach body tissues. Children with TOF often have cyanosis, a blue or purple tint to the skin, lips and fingernails.
As an infant, Haris’s parents noticed the colour of his skin turning blue whenever he was crying. As he grew a bit older, they also noticed him getting tired quickly after walking. Little did they know, these were signs of a potentially life-threatening CHD.
Following a medical check-up in their hometown of Bhakkar, an ancient walled town located in western Punjab, an Echocardiography (ECHO), cardiac ultrasound, was recommended. The results of this test confirmed the underlying heart condition Haris was born with.
His parents were devastated and a life without their son was unfathomable. To ensure that Haris survived CHD, they immediately started the search for treatment options. They went to various cities but experienced a lack of guidance everywhere they went.
Eventually, their resilience started bearing fruit and they made their way to PCHF. As we are among the best organizations in the country when it comes to treating children born with CHD, we were going to do our utmost for Haris as well.
Haris’s father is a shopkeeper who solely supports his whole family and needed financial support for the required heart surgery. Being blessed with an exceptional donor base, both individuals and organizations who believe in our mission, we were swiftly able to arrange funds.
One of our generous donors, Ms. Natasha Ali Lakhani, stepped up and we are thankful beyond measure for her support. Haris’s surgery was scheduled at our very own world-class Cardiac Care Center at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital (ULTH), with a brilliant team of CHD healthcare professionals on board.
In terms of preparation, everything possible had been done and Haris’s family was told that he was in the very best of hands. All they had to do now was pray for the success of the surgery which was a very complex and intricate procedure.
After a few unimaginably difficult hours for Haris’s loved ones, we were delighted to inform them that he had won his fight against CHD! The life-saving treatment was successful and Haris was now a ‘CHD Warrior’.
Haris’s family was immensely relieved and thanked us for paving the way to a completely normal life for them. At the time of discharge, his mother was kind of enough to mention that she would never forget what Ms. Natasha Ali Lakhani, along with PCHF, had done for her son and that she was eternally grateful.
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, 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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