The pictures describe the journey of 2 year old Evans who came to our first ever combined surgical and cardiac catheter camp carried out by Healing Little Hearts in November 2018.
Tristan Elijah Campbell
9th February 2019Born with a hole in his heart
Evans family live in a suburb just outside Nairobi. They had sought help on several occasions in view of his breathlessness on activity and difficulty in gaining weight. He was subsequently diagnosed with a large hole in his pumping chambers of his heart (ventricular septal defect – VSD).
The family were unable to afford the cost for surgical repair and as such visited our camp on previous visits. As our previous camps only did key hole surgeries – (cardiac catheters) – we were unable to help Evans as the defect was only amenable to surgical repair
During our visit in November 2018 – he was listed for repair of his VSD. He was operated on the 4th day of our visit and after having a short stay in intensive care he quickly progressed to the ward. He stayed for a total of 5 days in hospital before going home.
He was reviewed a month after his procedure and is doing well, full of energy and with a bigger smile.
Evans on day one post surgery. He is not happy he is being made to walk the very next day.
Evans after having his review and discharge echocardiogram. He was told he is going home.
Evans having his operation by Mr. Asif Hasan and Mr. Ramesh Kutty. Miss Nikita Shah (local cardiac surgeon) also assisted in the surgery. Miss Amanda Hails (scrub nurse) watches on.
Part of our team who looked after Evans – held by his father. He was number 1499 for Healing Little Hearts. Alvis is also present who was number 1500 for Healing Little Hearts.
Evans’s father trying to tell Evans that it is time to go home.
Evans being encouraged by the local PICU nurse to walk on the first day after his operation.
Helen and Rebecca on the background cheering him on.
The theatre team getting ready to start the operation. The team consists of a mix of local members and from Healing Little Hearts. Rachel – the local scrub nurse standing beside the scrub trolley with all the surgical instruments that will be required to carry out the procedure.
Catherine – one of our PICU nurses having just received Evans from the operating theatre – slowly working through the various drugs, lines and monitoring that is required following each operation.
Written by
Dr Salim Jivanji
Post CCT Intervention Fellow
Evelina London Children’s Hospital
Healing Little Hearts Medical Volunteer
and Committee Member
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