Irum’s Success Story
Since inception in 2012, we at Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation (PCHF) have helped fund 3876 life-saving heart surgeries/interventions. This is the success story of 2-year-old Irum, 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.
Irum used to suffer from bouts of high fever and also pneumonia as an infant. Her family took her to a local doctor in their hometown of Peshawar to get a thorough medical check-up.
That’s when the hole in her heart was discovered and the family was told to travel to Lahore for treatment options. Irum’s parents were absolutely devastated, but showing incredible strength, they wasted no time whatsoever in making their way to another city.
They met renowned Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon, Dr. Syed Salman Ahmad Shah, in Lahore and were told about the required procedure needed to save Irum’s life. It was relatively expensive and Irum’s father, being a small shop owner, could not afford it.
He needed financial support and as Dr. Shah also happens to be a PCHF Medical Advisory Board Member, he was referred to us. We are a leading organization in the field of CHD and were ready to step in to save Irum’s life.
We met with the family and following a swift registration process, scheduled her surgery at one of our partner hospitals, the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital (ULTH). Dr. Shah was to carry out the procedure himself with a brilliant team of healthcare professionals alongside him.
Being blessed with an incredible donor base, both individuals and organizations alongside us on our journey, we also arranged the required funds for the heart surgery in practically no time. We are eternally grateful for their support.
Before she went in for surgery, Irum’s family was assured that everything in our power had been done and all they needed to do was pray for the treatment to go well. They were a like a symbol of resilience throughout the whole process.
Following the complex surgery that lasted a few hours, we were delighted to inform the family that Irum had surgery was a resounding success! She was now what we call a ‘CHD Warrior’.
True strength is born from all this and the joy of being able to live a normal life can now be shared between Irum and her loved ones. Her entire family, especially her father, were thankful beyond measure and 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 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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