Momna Saif: A 1-Year-Old CHD Warrior
‘History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children.’ Nelson Mandela
Since our inception in 2012, we at Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation (PCHF), have helped 2387 children get heart surgery. This is the astounding success story of a phenomenally spirited 1-year-old Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) survivor, Momna Saif. As an infant, Momna was diagnosed with multiple CHDs. Her Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) was accompanied by Mitral Regurgitation (MR). This left Momna’s parents in an extremely precarious situation, and they were willing to go the extra mile to save their child.
VSD, also known as a hole in the heart, is a common heart defect that’s present at birth. The hole occurs in the septum (wall) that separates the heart’s lower ventricles (chambers), and allows blood to pass from the left to the right side of the heart. The oxygen-rich blood then gets pumped back to the lungs instead of out to the body, causing the heart to work harder. VSDs can be accompanied by MR, owing to chronic volume overload or Mitral Valve (MV) abnormalities. MR is defined as an abnormal reversal of blood flow from the left ventricle to the left atrium. It is caused by disruption in any part of the MV apparatus.
We provide the highest quality of care for children with heart disease, irrespective of their financial means. Each year around 60,000 children are born with CHD in Pakistan, and a large majority of these children are unable to get the treatment required due to lack of facilities, personnel and the high costs involved. That is where we step in.
Momna Saif’s family brought her to us, all the way from the Karak District in Khyber Pakhtankhwa. They came full of hope for their child, and were looking to end their state of agony. Momna’s father, Saif Ullah, works as a Goverment Driver, and her mother, Mehar Un Nisa, is a housewife. Thankfully, their prayers were answered as the surgery was scheduled through a swift, smooth and extremely efficient process. The planned treatment for Momna was MV repair. Blessedly, the surgery was a success, and after a few days in the hospital under the special care of our brilliant team of healthcare professionals, she was discharged. Saif and Mehar are now proud parents of a CHD warrior.
We made a real difference in the lives of Momna and her family. Together, they can now dream of living a wonderful life. Children with CHD, who are the future of our country, vitally require your support. Legendary Pakistani cricketer, Misbah Ul Haq, has also joined us on the journey to conquering CHD in Pakistan, by helping build the nation’s first dedicated, state-of-the-art Children’s Heart Hospital and Research Institute (CHHRI).
You can donate towards children’s heart surgeries or hospital construction at:
#MakeARealDifference #MySecondInnings #Donate #Charity #PCHF #CHHRI #CHD #Zakat #Hajj
