Since 1994 the East Meets West Foundation’s Operation Healthy Heart (OHH) program has saved the lives of over 1,200 children in Vietnam with heart defects. OHH plans to save thousands more in the years ahead. Below are a few of the children who are now leading noral lives with optimistic and hopeful futures because of Operation Healthy Heart. Every child deserves a healthy heart. Help us save a child today.

Tran The Trung
Trung received his life-saving surgery through Operation Healthy Heart on June 22, 2006 and is now a healthy 14-year old boy. Trung’s family had already suffered a lot even before his heart defects were diagnosed at age 12 in 2005; his father suffers from a serious mental illness and his mother was the only provider for the family. The family had land for planting cassava from which they receive about $25 per year. In addition, Trung’s mother has a food business which enables her to earn about $2 per day. When Trung’s heart condition was diagnosed in 2004, he could no longer continue in school and was forced to drop out. This is no longer the case - Trung eagerly attends school now.

 

Bui Tuyet Nhi
Bui Tuyet Nhi had her life-saving OHH surgery in July 2006, just in time for her life to be saved. Her family is from Quang Nam province; her mother is a single parent who dopted Nhi when she was a newborn baby. They live with Nhi’s grandmother, aunt and uncle. Nhi’s uncle is a hired laborer with an income that is not enough to provide for the whole family. Her mother is a primary school teacher with an income of about $55 per month.  Nhi’s congenital heart disease, Tetralogy of Fallot (T4F), was diagnosed when she was 2 months old. As a result of her heart operation she is now a healthy, happy little 3-year old girl.

 

Tran Thi Cam
Tran Thi Cam is one child whose life has been saved as a result of the OHH program. Cam received a heart operation on December 17, 2004 for her serious heart defect called Mitral Regurgitation. She successfully recovered and is now a bright, smart and beautiful young woman, excited about her future and eager to prepare for the University entrance exam.

Lam Thi Thuy Duong

Lam Thi Thuy Duong’s parents learned of her heart defect when she was 5 years old. Duong never missed a day of school even though her condition left her exhausted most of the day. Her family’s income is less than $60 per month. Duong was able to receive her life-saving surgery on March 21st, 2005. The cost of the surgery that saved her life was only $1,300. Duong is back in school now and excels in her studies. She often receives merit certificates for her outstanding performance.

 

Phan Van Vu

Phan Van Vu’s family is one of the poorest households in Gio Linh District, a coast commune of Quang Tri Province. His father passed away from a stroke in 2003 and his mother works as a market seller to support her children and in-laws. Vu’s serious heart condition was discovered in 2004 after an examination at the commune’s medical clinic. He had cardiac surgery, which cost approximately $1,000 USD, on March 28th, 2005. Nine days after the surgery Vu returned home in good health and high spirits.

 

Ha Ngoc Thanh

Ha Ngoc Thanh smiles from ear to ear when asked how he is doing. He has big dreams for his future – either becoming a teacher or a journalist. But the healthy 19 year old from Quang Tri Province wasn’t always so certain about his future. That’s because he was born with a complicated congenital heart defect. With Thanh’s father’s whereabouts unknown, his single mother struggled to feed, house and educate 2 children. In 2001, Thanh’s case was brought to EMW’s attention, and on December 13, 2002, Thanh left the Ho Chi Minh Hospital with a newly mended heart and outlook on life.

For more info
Contact Laura Ward at laura@eastmeetswest.org or call 1-800-561-3378.