Save Katlyn, let us help mend her heart

Katlyn Thembela Ndlovu was born as what appeared to be a normal healthy baby at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in January 2020. Her mother Violet Mabhena (a first time teenage mom) says she noticed that Katlyn’s heart beat was very fast but when she raised concern she was reassured that this was normal for newly born babies. It was not until Katlyn was nine months old, and the young mother realizing no changes in her baby's heart rate, raised her concern again with a nurse at her local clinic. After examining Katlyn and realizing she had a pigeon chest this nurse escalated her findings to a senior nurse who immediately referred Katlyn to the hospital for further investigations and management.

 

An Echocardiogram, Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Chest X Ray were conducted and it was discovered she had a hole in her heart. Katlyn was then diagnosed with a congenital Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) and Violet was told the hole was too big to close on its own, as it sometimes would, and that her baby would need heart surgery to correct this defect.

 

Since then Katlyn has been in and out of hospital with difficulties in breathing and chest infections. Last year alone she was admitted five times with pneumonia and also needing oxygen support to breathe. She is currently on medication to relieve the work load exerted on her little lungs, but every day is a struggle and Violet says she has to wake up several times at night to check if her baby is still alive. She is also very small for her age, in December she weighed 9kg but her most recent weight is 6.8kg, the weight of a 4 month old, yet she is two years old. Katlyn is unable to play or do what other healthy two year old toddlers do.

 

Katlyn’s mother has been told she will not live past her 5th birthday unless she undergoes closure of the defect, a surgery they have been informed by her Pediatrician and Cardiologist, can only be done outside Zimbabwe. After enquiries it was realized that India was cheaper with costs totaling an estimated US$15 000. This total includes cost of the surgery and 9 days hospital stay, return air tickets, additional interdisciplinary consultations, use of special drugs/ consumables/ blood components and hotel stay expenses after the surgery. Their estimated length of stay in India will be approximately 1- 2 months. Being in Zimbabwe, a country with a severely weakened economy and a significant proportion of households experiencing reduced or no income, the family is unable to raise the required finances. The little money they get is being channelled towards buying the medications needed to control the symptoms of heart failure, treat recurring chest infections and other health care needs.

 

Katlyn needs to undergo surgery as soon as possible as with every passing day, her chances of survival diminish. Please let us help save her, your donations of any amount will be greatly appreciated. Thanking you in advance for your generosity, love and prayers.