{"id":32816,"date":"2021-01-07T22:29:19","date_gmt":"2021-01-08T03:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/?p=32816"},"modified":"2021-04-07T17:41:48","modified_gmt":"2021-04-07T22:41:48","slug":"traver-gift-of-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2021\/01\/07\/traver-gift-of-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Traver Readies for Heart Surgery Thanks to Gift of Life & You!"},"content":{"rendered":"

To keep 2021 going in the right direction, I have some joyful news to share with the HeartValveSurgery.com community.<\/p>\n

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\"Traver
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\nThanks to your extraordinary support, we have partnered with Gift of Life International to sponsor the heart surgery of little Traver (shown above).
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Little Traver\u2019s Story<\/h2>\n

Traver was born in a small, remote village of Uganda.\u00a0 With five older siblings, Traver\u2019s parents knew something was wrong.\u00a0 At just 2 months old, Traver developed body weakness with recurrent episodes of pneumonia and occasional cough.<\/p>\n

Traver went to a local hospital numerous times but never received an accurate diagnosis.\u00a0 This left Traver constantly ill and unable to thrive as a baby and toddler.<\/p>\n

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\"GiftTraver With His Family in Uganda<\/p>\n

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Traver was referred to the Uganda Heart Institute in Kampala, Uganda.\u00a0 There, Traver received a diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot<\/a> with severe infundibular stenosis and right pulmonary artery branch stenosis.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the Uganda Heart Institute did not have the medical expertise to treat Traver\u2019s complex heart condition.\u00a0 In addition, Traver\u2019s parents – Ategeka Christopher and Kirungi Rosemary who are farmers that make $3 dollars per day in Kyankuta Village \u2013 did not have the resources to send Traver to a foreign cardiac center.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, Traver needed help.<\/p>\n

 
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Gift of Life Was Prepared to Help Traver, But…<\/h2>\n

As you may know, I am a huge fan of Gift of Life International<\/a>.\u00a0 This amazing, non-profit organization has helped more than 38,000 children from 80 countries across 5 continents receive treatment for heart disease.<\/p>\n

The mission of Gift of Life International is to provide lifesaving 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.<\/p>\n

Here is to video to help you learn more about Gift of Life International.<\/p>\n

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