Transparenthands

Reshma Bibi, a 5-year-old girl from Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had been struggling with serious health problems that prevented her from enjoying a normal childhood. She frequently experienced shortness of breath and recurring chest infections. Even simple activities such as walking, running, or playing with other children left her tired and breathless. Her parents were also concerned because she was not gaining weight at the same rate as other children of her age. As Reshma’s symptoms continued to affect her health and development, her family took her to a doctor for a detailed medical evaluation. After completing the necessary examinations and diagnostic tests, the doctor diagnosed her with a large Atrial Septal Defect and Mitral Valve Prolapse. To correct the heart defect and improve the functioning of the affected valve, the doctor recommended ASD closure with mitral valve repair through open-heart surgery. The cost of the procedure was far beyond her family’s financial means. Reshma lives in a modest home with her parents and two siblings. Her father is the family’s only earning member and works as a laborer in Saudi Arabia. Despite living away from his family to earn a livelihood, he makes only around PKR 30,000 per month. His limited income is used to meet the family’s basic needs, including food, household expenses, utilities, education, and medical costs. With no savings available for cardiac surgery, Reshma’s parents contacted Transparent Hands for support. After her medical reports and the family’s financial circumstances were carefully assessed, her case was registered. On June 14, 2026, Reshma was admitted to the Ittefaq Hospital in Lahore. Her ASD closure with mitral valve repair was successfully performed by Dr. Asim Khan on June 15, 2026. During the open-heart procedure, the abnormal opening between the upper chambers of her heart was closed, and the mitral valve was repaired to improve normal blood flow. Following the surgery, Reshma remained under close medical observation and received post-operative care. Her condition remained stable, and she was discharged from the hospital on June 20, 2026. Expressing her gratitude, Reshma’s mother shared: “It was painful to see my daughter become breathless while doing the simplest activities. She could not play like other children and was not gaining weight properly. Your generosity gave her a second chance at life. Thank alot for being there for us.” The successful surgery has corrected Reshma’s heart defect and improved the functioning of her mitral valve. She is now recovering steadily and gradually regaining her strength. Your generosity made this life-changing treatment possible, and her family is grateful to you and the PCHF for providing her with much-needed cardiac surgery.