Save a Child’s Heart marks 30 years of cardiac surgeries for children fighting for their lives; 90% cannot otherwise access or afford care
ROCKVILLE, Md. — A one-of-a-kind humanitarian organization is marking 30 years of saving children with life-threatening heart conditions — giving them a second chance at life.
Since its first lifesaving surgery in 1996, Save a Child’s Heart has saved the lives of more than 8,000 critically ill children from 75 developing nations — places as far-flung as Peru, Kenya, and the Philippines.
The organization’s Israel-based world-class medical center has more than 100 surgeons, anesthesiologists, intensive care nurses, and other medical professionals who volunteer their time and expertise free-of-charge.
Sick children from around the world are flown to Israel for critical heart operations and care — lifesaving treatment they cannot get in their own country. Their families are not asked to pay anything.
Six-year-old Victoria from Kenya recently had lifesaving surgery, ending years of desperate worry for her anxious parents. “I always believed in God and held back tears, trusting that help would come,” said Victoria’s mother, Dorcus. “God answered my prayer.”
“For three decades, through wars, pandemics, and global uncertainty, we’ve remained steadfast in our mission — to save children’s lives, heal hearts, and build hope,” said David Litwack, executive director of the Maryland-based organization.
The need is huge.
Globally, one in every 100 children is born with congenital heart disease. About 90% of them cannot access pediatric heart treatment — and their families could not afford treatment or ongoing care even if they could access it.
Overcoming the Odds
In Ethiopia, seven-month-old Umer was turning blue with a severe congenital heart defect. He was given only a 25% chance of surviving to age 10 — and much slimmer odds of making it to age 20. Save a Child’s Heart arranged for Umer and his mother to fly to Israel where volunteer teams performed surgery. He is now back home with his family and doing well.
Umer is just one of hundreds of critically ill children that the organization will help this year.
“Many children we treat — like Umer — will require lifelong follow-up care, ensuring they can live full, healthy lives,” Litwack said.
The humanitarian organization is training a global network of “next generation” doctors and cardiac specialists in Israel to carry out lifesaving heart surgeries and follow-up care in their own developing countries where pediatric heart care is limited or nonexistent.
Trained at Save a Child’s Heart’s medical center near Tel Aviv, Dr. Mudaniso Ziwa returned to his native Zambia as the African nation’s first-ever pediatric cardiac surgeon. “I’m so excited to use the expertise I’ve acquired to help my people,” he said.
The organization “transcends borders, saving children regardless of nationality, beliefs, or family status,” Litwack said. “For 30 years, we’ve proven that hope and compassion can overcome any obstacle.”
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Save a Child’s Heart saves the lives of critically ill children suffering from heart disease in countries where access to pediatric heart care is limited or nonexistent. Through bringing children to Sylvan Adams Children’s Hospital in Israel for medical care, performing missions abroad, and training medical personnel, the organization is bringing hope to families and communities, and transforming pediatric cardiac care around the world.
