Thanks to caring people, children with heart defects have a chance at life.

Nastya's parents had been waiting for the birth of their daughter for a very long time. She was the first and long-awaited child in the family. However, the pregnancy was not very smooth, so the doctors decided to perform a cesarean section. The birth took place in the Rivne region. The girl was born a little earlier than the expected date.

Her weak condition did not cause much concern, as the girl was premature. However, after a few weeks, the doctors placed the baby for a detailed examination. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect was found. Thus, the parents' joy quickly turned to fear.

The doctors reassured them. The patent foramen ovale in the girl's heart did not pose a significant threat to her health, as this small opening between the right and left atria should close on its own over time. Only in case of certain complications would the doctors intervene. So, they were discharged from the hospital and advised to return for a check-up after some time.

At five months, the hole still had not closed. The doctors urgently sent the girl from their native Berezivka district to the regional hospital, where, fortunately, there were doctors from the Amosov Institute. It was a lucky ticket. The little one was immediately examined and given a referral for surgery in Kyiv. A hole in the septum always poses a danger, as over time it can lead to a disruption of the normal functioning of the heart. The foramen ovale is a physiological feature present in every fetus, but with the newborn's first breath, it should close under pressure.

There are cases when it remains open even in adulthood, and to a certain extent, this does not threaten their normal life, but in case of complications and other factors, it can develop into more serious problems. The parents did not hesitate and brought the girl for surgery. In three hours, the doctors closed the hole. And just a day later, the little one was transferred to a regular ward.

Thanks to caring people, such children have a chance at life. Parents do not always have enough funds to help children with various diseases. However, thanks to the help of others, everything becomes possible. For example, Shostak Robert, on his own birthday, raised funds and donated the drug Custodiol, so necessary for safely operating on babies, to the children in the intensive care unit of the Amosov Heart Institute.

And thanks to the Charity Chain project – a joint project of the "Tvoya opora" foundation and the "Gusema Fine Jewellery" brand – Nastya was provided with the necessary medications during her stay in intensive care. Currently, doctors cannot say whether more surgeries will be needed. Of course, the girl will constantly go for consultations, and the doctors will closely monitor her recovery. We wish her good health, and her parents strength and faith in a better future.