Follow up on "Heart Help"!

It is done!!! Melisa Chris had surgery to repair a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) on June 18th!!! The Ductus Arteriosus is a pathway for blood to flow through while a baby is still in mama's belly. This pathway diverts the blood from going to the lungs since it does not need to go there to pick up oxygen. Once the baby is born the pathway normally closes. When it does not close, as was the case with Melisa, the heart is required to work harder to compensate for the abnormality and if left unrepaired the child can develop heart failure. Thanks to the Australian Heart team this will not be the case for Melisa!!! I don't have a picture of Melisa but when I have opportunity to get one I will pass it along to you all!! She is a cutey!

Klara Marang has a more complicated heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. She had surgery in 2006 but needs a second procedure. The Australian Team confirmed that she definitely needs surgery but that it will have to be done in Australia. She has been put on a waiting list. We have no idea when her surgery will take place but we are expecting that it will be some time in the next 12 months. We are currently working on getting her a birth certificate (Most of the population here do not have a birth certificates. In fact many were born at home and don't know the exact birth date!) and a passport. She will need a special medical visa that is only good for 3 months and therefore we will have to wait till we hear an exact date of the surgery before we can process the visa. Pray for me as I try to coordinate getting all the paper work in order. Also pray for God's timing. Klara's mom is expecting a baby! She is only in the first trimester. She would very much like to travel with Klara to Australia but if it is too near the time of her delivery she will have to have someone else go in her place.

Kondo Walep was mentioned in my previous article on Heart Help. (The one in the picture.) He was found to have another problem in addition to the ASD. He has a coarctation of the aorta, which means he has a narrowing of the aorta. The heart has to work harder to push the blood through the narrowed section of the aorta. However, over all he is not well enough for surgery now. He is being treated currently for pulmonary tuberculosis. He has been instructed to follow up with the heart team next year.

Thank you so much to all of you who contributed funds to help with air travel for these kids! God provided a free ticket for Melisa Chris and her mother through Airlines PNG!!! A portion of the monies donated will be used to fly Klara and her mother to POM when the time comes for them to go to Australia. Any remaining funds will be set aside to be used next year for any children who are referred for surgery.

Thanks again to you who contributed! I felt confidant that there would be some who God would lead to give us some help, heart help!!!
Dr. Susan