Umar’s Life Has Been Saved Through Cardiac Surgery

Muhammad Umar Khan's Story

Muhammad Umar Khan, a 4-year-old boy from Swat, KPK, had been fighting for every breath since the day he was born. He experienced constant shortness of breath, chest discomfort, and bluish discoloration of his skin and nails. His parents took him to a local hospital and consulted a doctor. After undergoing a thorough examination, Umar was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). When he was only a few months old, he underwent a right-sided BT shunt surgery to improve oxygen flow. Later, a PDA stent and an RPA stent were inserted to support blood circulation to his lungs.

Despite these interventions, Umar continued to struggle. His symptoms persisted, and his daily activities were limited. During a recent detailed medical evaluation, he was diagnosed with small pulmonary arteries, making his condition more critical. The doctor recommended open-heart surgery, pulmonary artery plasty, and a left-sided BT shunt surgery to improve blood flow to his lungs and prevent dangerous complications. However, his family was unable to pay for his surgery.

Umar lives with eight family members in someone else’s home. His father, a daily wage laborer, earns around PKR 15,000 per month, an amount barely sufficient for food, clothing, and basic necessities. Affording such a complex and expensive heart surgery was impossible for the family. During this challenging time, they contacted Transparent Hands. Understanding the nature of Umar’s medical condition, we registered his case.

On September 1, 2025, he was admitted to the Ittefaq Hospital in Lahore. Dr. Asim Khan successfully performed his open-heart surgery, including pulmonary artery plasty and a left-sided BT shunt, on September 2, 2025. The surgery progressed smoothly, and Umar received essential post-operative care. He continued to improve and was discharged in stable condition on September 9, 2025.

Umar’s parents described their emotions as follows:
“Umar is no longer facing the complications that he used to before. We could not have arranged his treatment on our own. We are deeply grateful to you for supporting our child when we needed help the most.”

Umar is now recovering well, showing improved breathing and new energy. His family extends their heartfelt gratitude to you and the Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation for making this life-changing treatment possible.