Adventina Dismas Ernest was born on February 14, 2008, at Kibondo District Hospital in the Kigoma Region. In 2019, she was taken to Igalilimi Hospital in the Kahama District for a check-up after experiencing difficulty breathing and frequent coughing. It was discovered that her heart had dilated, and she was directed to take medication to return to a normal condition. However, it was not possible until she was referred to Bugando Medical Center for further treatment, where she was diagnosed with a heart defect (VSD).

Her father interpreted the situation as a hereditary disease that she might have inherited from her mother’s side, resulting in her being chased out of her home with her father. Her mother sought help from Dr. Glory, a Pediatric Cardiologist at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, who reported Adventina’s case to The One New Heart Tanzania.

At that time, local camps for children’s heart treatment, including surgical procedures, were not organized. Assistance was sought from the HeartGift Foundation USA, and after sharing the necessary reports and requirements, Adventina was fortunate to be selected for lifesaving heart surgery in the USA.

In 2020, preparations for her and her mother’s travel documents were underway when unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, leading to the closure of almost all international borders and hindering the acquisition of a US visa. For more than six months, there was a sense of hopelessness regarding how to proceed with Adventina’s crucial surgery.

The idea was then proposed to the HeartGift Foundation to sponsor her treatment locally at the National Cardiac Center, which was accepted. Through Care for Child’s Heart Kenya, in early December 2020, Adventina was referred to the hospital and was considered an international patient, causing the treatment cost to be slightly higher than local rates.

Accompanied by her mother, Adventina traveled from Kigoma to Dar es Salaam by train, covering a distance of approximately 1374 kilometers (854 miles), a journey that took two days. Accommodation was arranged for them in Dar es Salaam before being admitted to the hospital. Everything proceeded smoothly until she received her life-saving cardiac surgery at the Jakaya Kikwete Heart Institute (JKCI) in December 2020.

After her recovery, they returned to Kigoma for Adventina to have a short rest and continue her studies. They also attended clinics at the JKCI. Recently, during a routine follow-up, we connected with her teacher and shared that Adventina is continuing her studies and is currently in the tenth grade at the ordinary secondary level.

We are grateful to those who continue to impact the lives of children born with congenital heart defects and who are unable to afford their treatment. We believe that helping these children is not only aiding the individual but also benefiting the family and the community in which they will grow and serve.