{"id":38998,"date":"2024-07-05T14:07:42","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T19:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/?p=38998"},"modified":"2024-07-09T15:40:02","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T20:40:02","slug":"gift-of-life-patient-patrick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2024\/07\/05\/gift-of-life-patient-patrick\/","title":{"rendered":"In Uganda, Patrick Readies for Heart Valve Surgery Thanks to You!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wonderful news!!!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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That’s right!\u00a0 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.\u00a0 So you know, Patrick has severe mitral regurgitation, moderate tricuspid regurgitation, and severe pulmonary hypertension.
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Patrick’s Cardiac Struggle<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Patrick was originally diagnosed with heart valve disease in 2021.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Today, Patrick is stable and on several medications including enalapril, spironolactone, furosemide and a monthly dose of benzathine penicillin G (BPG).<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 Patrick’s favorite subject is mathematics and he loves football but cannot play because of his weak heart.\u00a0 Patrick hopes to become a doctor in the future.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, Patrick needs help.
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Gift of Life Prepares to Help Patrick, But…<\/h2>\n

As many of you know, I am a big fan of Gift of Life International<\/a>.\u00a0 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!)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

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