I WOULD have lost my life if it was not for Save A Child’s Heart, says surviving patient, Deborah Mtonga.

Born with a heart condition, 19-year-old Deborah has learned to live with pain throughout her life.

In 2017, she underwent her first surgery at Lusaka’s University Teaching Hospital to help heal her heart problem. But the procedure only gave her relief for about five years, when doctors found another issue, which she terms as a “valve problem”.

It was then when she was referred to the National Heart Hospital, where specialised doctors suggested that she could not be operated in Zambia and would need to travel to Israel, through Save A Child’s Heart (SACH).

Save A Child’s Heart is a global network of doctors, family members, volunteers, and supporters, who help bring life-saving cardiac care to children in need around the world.

Founded in 1995 by Dr Amram Cohen after immigrating to Israel from the United States in 1992, SACH has saved over 8,500 children from 75 countries.

The Israeli charity organisation brings children, and now adults, from all over the globe in need of cardiac care to Israel for treatment free of charge.

Therefore, Deborah from Zambia, happens to be one of the lucky beneficiaries of this initiative. She says she recently underwent her second operation, and is recovering well in Israel.

This journalist visited SACH’s home in Israel, where patients get to heal and interact with other patients and families, after undergoing surgery at the nearby hospital.

Deborah had just undergone an operation about two weeks ago, and talks about her life-changing experience.

“I am a patient here. I was born with a heart condition and they repaired part of the problem in 2017 in Lusaka at UTH. They later found a valve problem in 2022, that is when I started going to the National Heart Hospital. So I have been there till now and I underwent a second operation here in Israel, last week. I am actually great. They are good people and they took care of me even when I was alone. They really took care of me because I would have lost my life,” said Deborah.

At SACH’s home, mothers who have also travelled from Zambia are waiting for their children to undergo life-changing surgeries.

Evelyn Mumba says her three-year-old daughter, Maya, was diagnosed with a cardiac problem in 2022.

“We came here on the 15th of July. My baby Maya is three years old. She was diagnosed with a cardiac problem around 2022 and we came to find out about this place when we went to the National Heart Hospital. When they did their investigations that side, they said they could not work around the condition of the baby in Zambia. So they actually requested us for further investigations. When the doctors from Israel came to Zambia, they checked and said she will need surgery in Israel. So that is how we found out about Save A Child’s Heart. Right now, they’ve done a few investigations and carried out their own tests. They’ve told us God willing, they can conduct surgery next week. They are really helping us and we are getting the care that we need and we hope to go back home with healthy babies,” narrated Evelyn.

Bwalya Mukuka, whose son, Ethan, has also had a heart problem since 2023, says she cannot wait to return home with a healthy baby.

She has also urged the Zambian government to invest in specialised doctors, so that people do not have to leave their families and travel to seek treatment elsewhere.

“Ethan is my son, he is three years. Ethan had a cardiac problem in 2023. From UTH, we were referred to the National Heart Hospital. They told us this child cannot be worked on in Zambia, but for further investigations, he would be worked on in Israel. Last year, we received some doctors. So we were called and we had that opportunity that our babies had been selected to travel to Israel to be operated on. Thank you so much to the Israel government for what has been done. Next week, we hope to be in surgery and hope to go back with healthy babies. We want to thank the Save A Child’s Heart, we really appreciate because they are keeping us well and everything is going well. We are comfortable and having food, despite having sick babies. But our hope is that our babies will be fine,” said Bwalya.

“Mostly, if we have special doctors at home, who are trained and surgeries are done in Zambia, a lot of people can have that opportunity. We are a lot. When you go to National Heart Hospital, there is a long queue waiting for patients to be operated on but they have not been selected. Some have died and some are still waiting. So if government invests and we have specialised doctors in Zambia, we won’t have to travel to Israel and patients can have surgeries at home. So we would appreciate that”.

Another mother, Emeldah Simwinga, whose sick son is also waiting to undergo surgery, urged SACH to continue helping the less privileged in Zambia.

“I am 42 years and my sick son is Nelson Simwinga. We came to Israel on 15th July. We came from the National Heart Hospital and we are the eight of us. When we reached here, they welcomed us properly and fed us well. My son was tested and the only thing remaining is the surgery. We thank the doctors and they must continue this goodwill and help others who are also in need,” said Emeldah.

And Young leadership coordinator, Sandra, who is Ethiopian, says she feels a sense of satisfaction through volunteering and taking care of the children at the facility.

“I learnt about Save A child’s Heart in 2019 and I volunteered for a couple of hours. When I decided to move to Israel, I reached out to see if there is an opportunity. I still loved the impact it had in my heart. I loved the work that Save A Child’s Heart was doing, I love the mission and my values very much align. I have seen so many families and children come in and out of this house and I have helped coordinate many volunteers locally and around the world. So we just make sure we raise awareness and make everyone around the world know that we exist. I love helping children,” said Sandra.

Meanwhile, addressing a delegation of journalists from various African countries, SACH Director of Operations Riki Rosenbaum, explained that one of the biggest challenge has been cancelled flights, due to the Middle East war.

She says some children were unable to travel to Israel in order to receive treatment due to the cancelled flights.

Rosenbaum, however, says SACH was doing everything possible to overcome the challenge and save the children’s lives.

“The biggest challenge we face right now is the cancelled flights. Many flights were cancelled. They stopped flying to Israel during the war with Iran. So that has been the biggest challenge. We haven’t faced any other challenge that we can differentiate from this period and the next, other than the war. Despite the challenges, children still came to the children’s home and we expect another group to come from South Sudan. So we do our best to accommodate all of them even through the challenges,” said Rosenbaum.

“I think the most important thing is that during the war, also thinking about even COVID in 2020, Save a Child’s Heart has continued to save children’s lives, throughout any conflict, any war or whatever happens in our region, we find children’s lives as the most important thing. Whatever challenges we face, we keep working to save our children”.

Rosenbaum said SACH receives financial support from the Israeli government and other well-wishers.