In Uganda, Patrick Readies for Heart Valve Surgery Thanks to You!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: July 7, 2024
Wonderful news!!!
For the 6th time, I am happy to share that our community just sponsored a life-saving cardiac surgery for a child with heart valve disease.
That’s right! Thanks to you and our partnership with Gift of Life International, we sponsored the heart valve surgery of Patrick Kalikodi, a 13-year-old boy from the Mukono District in Central Uganda. So you know, Patrick has severe mitral regurgitation, moderate tricuspid regurgitation, and severe pulmonary hypertension.
Patrick’s Cardiac Struggle
While I am still learning the details of Patrick’s illness and journey to a healthy heart, here are several details about his life, his diagnosis and his upcoming surgery.
Patrick was originally diagnosed with heart valve disease in 2021. Since then, he has been admitted to the hospital on two separate occasions due to heart failure that was caused by a lack of access to medications. Today, Patrick is stable and on several medications including enalapril, spironolactone, furosemide and a monthly dose of benzathine penicillin G (BPG).
As for his family, Patrick has two brothers and three sisters. According to his parents, Patrick’s condition deteriorated to the point where he could not longer walk to school. As a result, Patrick is now at a boarding school at the Primary 4 learning level (although he should be in Primary 7 at his age). Patrick’s favorite subject is mathematics and he loves football but cannot play because of his weak heart. Patrick hopes to become a doctor in the future.
Needless to say, Patrick needs help.
Gift of Life Prepares to Help Patrick, But…
As many of you know, I am a big fan of Gift of Life International. This wonderful, non-profit organization has helped more than 52,000 children in over 80 countries across 5 continents get treatment for heart disease. (In 2023, Gift of Life organized the treatment of more than 5,000 children in just one year!)
The mission of Gift of Life International is to provide life-saving cardiac treatment to children in need from developing countries regardless of gender, creed, or national origin. Their goal is to develop sustainable pediatric cardiac programs by implementing screening, surgical and training missions which are supported by autonomous Gift of Life programs, Rotary Global Grants and generous donors from around the world.
Here is to video to help you learn more about Gift of Life International.
After learning about Patrick’s need for heart surgery, Gift of Life was ready to help.
The only thing Gift of Life needed was a co-sponsor for Patrick’s surgery.
Our Community Takes Action!
To support Gift of Life and help Patrick get the treatment he so desperately needs, you and all the wonderful patients, family members, friends, doctors, physician assistants, nurses, hospitals, researchers and medical companies in the HeartValveSurgery.com community just co-sponsored Patrick’s treatment. Woo-Hooo!!!!
As Rob Raylman, the CEO of Gift of Life International, stated:
“Without the support from HeartValveSurgery.com, Patrick would never have been provided the care he requires. Supplemental sponsorships such as the donation from HeartValveSurgery.com empower Ugandan doctors to care for Ugandan children.”
Patrick’s Surgery Scheduled for November
Raylman and Gift of Life has wasted no time mobilizing the logistics for Patrick’s surgery.
According to Raylman, Patrick is now scheduled for mitral valve and tricuspid valve surgery in November.
Raylman stated, “Patrick will be operated on by Dr. Tom Mwambu at the Uganda Heart Institute in Kampala.”
Stay Tuned For Patrick’s Updates!
I am so honored and thankful to be a part of the HeartValveSurgery.com community. Your support of this community has empowered us to help Patrick and partner with Gift of Life again. You might remember that we also sponsored the heart surgeries of the following children:
To get updates about Patrick’s journey to a healthy heart, you can subscribe to my free newsletter at this link.
Keep on tickin!
Adam
Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder
