Adim: spotted by his grandmother in Zanzibar

Adim was born on 9 December 2016 in Zanzibar. That same year his father was transferred to Dodoma for government service, and Adim stayed with his grandmother in Zanzibar.

His grandmother was the first to notice the signs of a heart problem: he was not growing well and his body was weak.

In November 2020 Adim moved to Dodoma to join his father. Doctors there confirmed that he had holes in his heart. He was referred to the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute and attended a heart clinic every month. His father then visited Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma, where he was told about the children's surgical camp run by The One New Heart Tanzania.

Adim had his heart surgery at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital on 14 July 2021. He recovered well and was discharged a few days later.

We have stayed in touch with his father, Mr. Said Kombo Hamad. He tells us that Adim is doing very well at school, and he recently shared a photograph of Adim that we are glad to show here.

Adim's grandmother saw the signs. A family member who knows what to look for is often the first screening a child gets, which is why awareness is part of our work.