Raza’s Success Story
Since inception in 2012, we at Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation (PCHF) have helped fund 3538 life-saving heart surgeries/interventions. This is the success story of 7-year-old Raza, who was diagnosed with a Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) called a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD).
A VSD is a birth defect in which there is a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the 2 upper chambers (ventricles) of the heart. This leads to extra blood being pumped into the lungs and forces the heart to work harder. If this is not repaired the risk of heart failure or other complications like a stroke increases.
As a young boy, Raza used to have recurrent bouts of fever along with severe pain in his legs. His parents, out of concern for his health but not knowing the extent of the situation, took him to a doctor for a routine medical check-up.
After little Raza had an ECHO (Echocardiography), ultrasound of the heart, it was discovered that he had a potentially life-threatening CHD that required immediate attention and most likely surgery which was relatively expensive.
Raza’s father is a labourer in Sheikhupura who supports his whole family, which includes his wife and 3 children, all by himself. He really needed financial support to be able to help save his son’s life. After a search that lasted around a year, he finally found out about us, a leading organization in the field of CHD.
We provide the highest quality of care for children with CHD, irrespective of their financial means. Every year, around 60,000 children are born with this disease in Pakistan, and a large majority of them are unable to get the treatment required. That is where we step in.
Following an initial registration process and consultations, we were able to swiftly schedule Raza’s surgery at our very own Cardiac Care Center at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital (ULTH). This is a facility which is second to none when it comes to CHD treatment.
A world-class team of healthcare professionals was appointed to carry out the heart surgery and with access to a remarkable donor base, 100 percent of the required funds were also arranged. All the preparations were complete.
Raza’s family was praying for the procedure, which is quite complicated and requires ultimate focus, to be successful. This is a time that is unimaginably difficult for parents and tests their resolve to the fullest.
Just like them though, Raza also had that fighting spirit. His surgery turned out to be a resounding success and he had defeated CHD! The potential of his young heart had now been unleashed and he could go on to chase his dreams.
Not only was Raza’s family overjoyed about the fact that he was now a ‘CHD Warrior’, but they were also grateful to us and inspired by our work. They wanted Raza to grow up to become a doctor and help others like we do. We surely made a real difference.
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 suffering from 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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#PlayYourPartSaveLittleHearts #CHD
