157 Successful Heart Surgeries
“I am glad I cancelled most of my appointments to be here. It is an amazing thing you’re doing giving these children a second chance at life. This is a job well done,” Ratu Wiliame said.
Friday 14 July 2023 | 19:15
On Wednesday, President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere cancelled most of his appointments to take part in a celebration to commemorate the discharge of baby Seth Tovehi from the hospital.
This is part of the Gift of Life project by Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital, which has saved the lives of 157 children from Fiji and in the Pacific region this year.
“I am glad I cancelled most of my appointments to be here. It is an amazing thing you’re doing giving these children a second chance at life. This is a job well done,” Ratu Wiliame said.
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Apart from Fiji, Foundation director, Krupali Tappoo said they have also supported children from the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea.
Baby Seth’s mother, Selai Tovehi, 39, said: “My fifth and last-born child was a victim of a congenital heart disease after a c-section delivery at the Labasa Hospital.
“It’s not an easy thing to be told, your baby could go through cardiac failure if he doesn’t get the surgery.”
Travelling from Vanuabalavu Island in the Lau Province was one of the biggest challenges Ms Tovehi faced.
“I was overwhelmed when I got the call from the Prema Foundation that my son was listed for the surgery. When all flights to Viti Levu were full, I was grateful to the manager of Mago Island who kindly offered us an airplane ride that I could boldly say, contributed to saving my son’s life,” she said.
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