You Saved Zainab’s Life with Cardiac Surgery

Zainab Atta's Story

Zainab Atta, a 1-year-old girl from Dera Ismail Khan, had been struggling to breathe normally since birth. Her parents noticed that even simple activities like crying or feeding caused difficulty in breathing. She also failed to gain weight like other children of her age, leaving her parents deeply worried. When they took her to a local hospital, the doctor conducted several examinations and diagnosed her with Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) and Pulmonary Stenosis (PS). To correct these defects, the doctor recommended open-heart surgery for total correction.

However, her family’s financial constraints made surgery impossible. They live in a small mud house in Dera Ismail Khan. Her father, the sole provider for the family, works as a daily wage laborer and earns only PKR 22,000 per month. Supporting a household of six on this income left them with no means to afford the costly cardiac procedure. In desperation, Zainab’s parents reached out to Transparent Hands for help. After reviewing her case, medical reports, and family situation, we registered her case.

On September 3, 2025, Zainab was admitted to Ittefaq Hospital, Lahore. The following day, Dr. Asim Khan successfully performed her open-heart surgery for total correction. The procedure repaired the defect, and restored proper blood flow. Zainab received postoperative care in the cardiac ICU and was discharged in stable condition on September 9, 2025.

Her mother shared her feelings as follows:
“I am sincerely thankful to you for helping my daughter get this surgery. She had struggled to breathe since birth, but now she is improving every day. Your support has given her a chance to live a healthy life. We are deeply grateful for the kindness shown to our family.”

Zainab’s condition has improved remarkably after surgery. She can now breathe more comfortably and feed better. Her family is grateful to you and to Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation (PCHF) for giving their little girl a new chance at life.