Wilma

WILMA IS A SWEET AND CURIOUS SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM LIBREVILLE, GABON.

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Wilma is one of four siblings. She has three brothers, making her the only girl of the family. Wilma’s father, Wilfred, is an engineer and her mother, Nili, is a housewife. 

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At home, Wilma just started first grade where she has lots of friends and loves art class. 

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When Wilma was eight months old, she had a lot of chest pain and the recurring feeling of breathlessness so her mother took her to be checked by a doctor.

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Wilma was eventually diagnosed with a congenital heart disease called pulmonary stenosis (PS).

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PS is a congenital condition in which the pulmonary valve, the valve that lets blood flow from the heart to the lungs via the pulmonary artery, is narrowed and consequently slows the flow of blood. This causes the lower right chamber of the heart (ventricle) to work harder and thicken over time.

Wilma travelled to Israel with her mother and the anticipation of receiving pediatric cardiac care which she knew she could not receive back at home!

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Save a Child’s Heart was especially excited to bring Wilma for life-saving care in Israel because Gabon marked our 68th country reached! 

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ON MARCH 13, 2023, WILMA UNDERWENT A CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION FOLLOWED BY AN OPEN HEART SURGERY ON APRIL 3, 2023, AT THE IDA CABAKOFF INTERNATIONAL PEDIATRIC CARDIAC CENTER FOR SAVE A CHILD'S HEART AT WOLFSON MEDICAL CENTER IN ISRAEL. THESE TWO PROCEDURES ULTIMATELY SAVED HER LIFE!

Nili, Wilma’s mom tells us “like any mom, I was scared and told myself there is a possibility her heart could stop at any moment. Everytime she had a terrible cough, I was nervous it would stop. Once we found out about the opportunity in Israel, I was relieved for my daughter. I knew she has a chance to live a normal life like her brothers. I want to thank everyone who put so much effort to bring us here. The first time we were supposed to come to Israel, I got malaria and we couldn’t come until I was better. I was nervous I ruined my only daughter’s chance at a better life. It took me a few weeks to recover and then SACH was able to get us new flight tickets. I am grateful for their patience and their thoughtful team and professional treatment.”

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The SACH team is thrilled to reach a new country, mend Wilma’s heart and give hope to more children from Gabon to receive cardiac treatment in Israel.