Meet the Children
Every child we serve has a unique story of resilience, hope, and strength.
Through this space, we honor some of their journeys and the families who entrust us with their care. These stories reflect not only medical challenges, but the courage, love, and possibility that emerge when access to care is made possible.
Meet Christopher
Christopher was born healthy, but his parents noticed that he was growing more slowly than other children, despite being active and rarely sick. By the age of two, they became concerned when his breathing worsened and his lips appeared dark.
They took Christopher to a nearby private clinic in Kumi, where he was diagnosed with a heart condition and referred to the Uganda Heart Institute at Mulago for further care. There, doctors confirmed his diagnosis and recommended surgery.
Through Gift of Life, Christopher was selected to receive sponsorship for surgery. His parents are overjoyed and deeply grateful to the doctors and Gift of Life, and they look forward to seeing their energetic boy healthy once again.
Meet Audrey
Seven-month-old Audrey was born seemingly healthy, but her mother soon noticed she was small for her age and developed a persistent cough and fever.
At Mulago Hospital, Audrey was diagnosed with a large apical muscular ventricular septal defect—a hole in her heart requiring surgery to survive. Because the defect was in a difficult location to repair in infancy, she underwent a pulmonary artery band on November 20, 2025 to reduce blood flow to her lungs and ease strain on her heart while she grows.
Audrey recovered well, showing improved breathing, weight gain, and energy, and was discharged home on December 3, 2025, where she is expected to continue thriving as she awaits her next surgery.
Meet Naume
Naume is a bright young girl from Lira, the youngest of six, who loves school and dreams of becoming an engineer and entrepreneur, an ambition inspired by her parents’ small agricultural equipment shop.
In 2022, during an echocardiography screening for rheumatic heart disease using Philips Lumify as part of a research study, she was found to have mild disease with mitral regurgitation. Despite enrollment in a penicillin trial, her condition progressed to severe over two years, leaving her weak and unable to enjoy activities she once loved.
On November 18, 2025, Naume underwent mitral valve replacement by the Ugandan cardiac surgery team. Shortly after, she developed rigors and lethargy in the ICU, but the team quickly diagnosed malaria and treated her with donor-supported medication. She was discharged home on December 6, 2025, recovering well and rediscovering her energy, and her big dreams for the future.
Meet Mariam
Mariam was healthy at birth, but at eight months old she began to experience persistent coughing and fevers. Her mother initially took her to Busia Hospital for treatment, where a doctor noticed concerns with her breathing and examined her heart.
Mariam was referred to the Uganda Heart Institute at Mulago Hospital, where further tests confirmed a heart defect that required surgery. With support from the doctors and sponsorship through Gift of Life and the visiting medical team, Mariam was selected to receive the care she needed.
Meet Prossy
Prossy was born healthy and full of energy. She loves going to school, helping her mother at home, listening to music, and watching cartoons. As the firstborn and only girl in her family, she dreams of becoming a doctor one day.
At the age of seven, her mother noticed changes in Prossy’s health, including ongoing weakness, cough, fevers, and breathing difficulties. In May 2022, Prossy was taken to Kitgum General Hospital, where tests and an ECG revealed a heart condition. She was referred to the Uganda Heart Institute at Mulago Hospital for further care.
After additional testing, doctors confirmed that Prossy needed surgery. Although the cost was beyond her family’s means, Prossy later received sponsorship for surgery through Gift of Life / HeartValveSurgery.com (HVS).
