Maleeha’s Success Story
Since inception in 2012, we at Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation (PCHF), have financially supported 4,336 child heart surgeries. This is the success story of 5-year-old Maleeha, who was diagnosed with a Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) called Tetralogy Of Fallot.
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.
Maleeha was suffering from multiple signs and symptoms of CHD. Along with cyanosis, she had difficulty breathing and walking as well. She also used to feel ill often. When this was not subsiding, her parents took her to their local doctor in their hometown of Peshawar.
When the doctor heard the case, he immediately suspected CHD. To confirm this, he had Maleeha undergo a thorough medical examination. An Echocardiography (ECHO), a cardiac ultrasound, was also a part of it and once the results came through, her parents were informed that their daughter’s life was in danger.
They were absolutely devastated and could not fathom a life without their child, the light of their lives. To make matters even worse, they were told about the relatively expensive treatment needed to save Maleeha’s life.
Maleeha’s father, who works as a labourer in Saudi Arabia, is the sole breadwinner in a family of 4, including his wife and 3 daughters. He was told to visit Lahore to search for treatment options, as she could not be treated in Peshawar and also to look for financial support.
Not wasting any time, he immediately made his way to Lahore along with his family. Eventually, he also learned of PCHF through one of our partner hospitals he visited, Bahria International Hospital Orchard (BIHO).
Full of hope now, Maleeha’s father called us and arranged a meeting. After listening to his ordeal, we were not going to let him down and informed him that saving his daughter’s life was now going to be a priority for us. Blessed with a generous donor base, the required funds would be arranged swiftly.
All hospital-related formalities were also taken care of and the surgery was scheduled at BIHO. A world-class team of CHD healthcare professionals was on board for the procedure known as a Total Correction. Commendably, Maleeha’s father also contributed towards the cost of treatment.
As Maleeha went in for surgery, her loved ones were present and praying for its success. They were given assurances that she was in the best of hands and that thousands before her had undergone successful heart procedures through us. The hours that followed were still going to be difficult beyond measure for them.
Once the complex heart surgery was complete, it was a privilege for us, as it always is, to inform Maleeha’s family that she had defeated CHD! She was now a ‘CHD Warrior’ who could go on to live a normal life. Her family was over the moon and full of praise for our whole team.
As they left, they wished us continued success in all our projects and also hoped that Maleeha would grow up to become a doctor who would help save lives like hers was. We had undoubtedly gained more lifelong supporters and feel blessed to be in such a position.
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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