Success Story: A 1-Year-Old Who Went Through The Greatest Of Obstacles
“The soul is healed by being with children.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky, Novelist
Since our inception in 2012, we at Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation (PCHF), have helped 2713 children get heart surgery. This is the astounding success story of a 1-year-old Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) survivor who went through the greatest of obstacles.
Shortly after being born, Mirha Bilal was diagnosed with multiple CHDs, Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) and Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). This left her parents in a state of shock at a time when generally everyone involved is experiencing moments of absolute joy and bliss.
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.
TGA is a serious but rare heart defect present at birth, in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed. This condition is also called dextro-transposition of the great arteries. TGA changes the way blood circulates through the body, leaving a shortage of oxygen in blood flowing from the heart to the rest of the body.
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.
Mirha’s family brought her to us all the way from Sargodha. After going through numerous trials and tribulations, such as being told that there is no treatment available in their hometown, they came full of hope for their child. Mirha’s father, Muhammad Bilal, is a labourer who solely supports his whole family which includes his 2 daughters and Mirha’s mother, Samia Bibi, who is a housewife.
After being told at Children’s Hospital Lahore that there is a waiting list of thousands of children for heart surgery, Mirha’s doctor advised her parents to go visit PCHF. That’s when her father contacted us for help.
After a swift patient registration process at our head office, Mirha’s surgery was scheduled at our partner hospital, the renowned Ittefaq Hospital Lahore. The planned treatment, a BT-Shunt, is an expensive procedure that her father could not afford on his own though. Thankfully, with the incredible support of our donors, we arranged around 70% of the required funds while Mirha’s father arranged the rest.
From hospital-related formalities to factors such as accommodation, we facilitated Mirha and her parents every step of the way. Blessedly, thanks to the prayers of her well-wishers and our brilliant team of healthcare professionals, her surgery turned out to be a massive success! After a few days in the hospital under special care, she was discharged. Muhammad Bilal and Samia Bibi are now proud parents of a ‘CHD Warrior’.
We made a real difference in the lives of Mirha Bilal and her family, turning their dreams into reality. Together, they can now live a life filled with happiness.
1 in 100 children, who can help shape a brighter future for our country, are born with CHD. They vitally require your help and 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:
#MySecondInnings #Donate #Charity #PCHF #CHHRI #CHD #Zakat #Hajj
