Cardiac Surgery for 4 African Children

Five children were fortunate to receive a stitch in time during the just-ended mission: life-saving open-heart surgery. Two other kids underwent cardiac catheterization (a medical procedure used to diagnose and treat some heart conditions). These surgeries and procedures were conducted by a visiting team of surgeons and anesthetists from Mozambique working with the resident team at the Cardiac Center Shisong. The children are now recuperating and making great progress toward a brighter future.

Unfortunately, presurgical examinations and ECG/Echo tests revealed that Ange, whom we have been raising funds to sponsor, would need a special procedure called Glenn Surgery in order to properly correct his heart defect, and the cardiac team was unable to perform it during this mission.

The Cardiac Center Shisong has informed us that they will be having at least two pediatric missions in November 2017. It is our hope that Ange and several other children on our surgical waiting list will get a chance at surgery during this period.

We thank all our supporters, partners and donors for your continued interests and for your donations to our cause, which has such profound impacts on the lives of deserving children and their families. We are proud to be able to share with you these pictures of some of the thriving children operated on so far this year.

The pediatric team completed its June mission on Wednesday. For each mission, the Cardiac Center will admit the maximum number the team can operate on, even though completing surgery for all twelve is unlikely.  That way if one or more of the children turns out not to be ready for surgery, another is immediately available.  This time, several of the cases turned out to be more complex than anticipated and, as a result, took extra time, and there were none for whom illness or other complications meant postponing surgery. As a result, successful surgery was completed for nine children, but sadly Ange was not among them. 

Those whose hearts were healed expressed their gratitude to APAVMEHEF, and Ange and Awabo are both looking forward to the next pediatric mission.  An extra mission in August, made more feasible as a result of the generous donations to our Heal A Heart project, is being considered to meet the ever-growing need.

GlobalGiving's bonus day, when they offer a 50% match for all donations while funds last, is coming up July 12, and donations then could help make an August mission a reality.  The matching funds go fast, though, so if you would like to a new donation then, please do it right at the start, which will be 9 am EDT -- 2 pm in Cameroon and 3 pm in Italy.