Keeping a heart beating
Plan's Children's Emergency Medical Fund helped save Dimitri's life. And with your help, this fund can save many more children's lives. Support our Children's Emergency Medical Fund today.
May 15, 2006
In many ways, Dimitri is a lot like other 16-year-old boys.
But in one way he is not—his heart.
Dimitri has a potentially fatal heart condition. A condition that requires constant supervision and treament. A condition that his family could never afford to treat on their own.
But you—yes, you!—may be helping to save him. Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, our Children’s Emergency Medical Fund has been able to provide Dimitri with life-saving surgery—not once, but twice, so far.
No time to waste
Dimitri was eight when his heart condition was first discovered, but not until he was 12 did his situation worsen. A routine clinical assessment in 2002 revealed an insufficiently operating mitral valve. Dimitri needed immediate surgery.
This is when the generosity of our supporters became life-saving.
As no hospital in Burkina Faso was equipped to perform Dimitri's heart surgery, he needed to be flown to France's Haut-Leveque Hospital. Dimitri’s family could not afford the cost of travel, the operation and the extended hospital stay Dimitri would need. But thanks to Plan USA’s Children’s Emergency Medical Fund, Dimitri was able to receive the care he needed.
In 2002, Dimitri successfully underwent a double aortic and mitral valvulopathy, with the insertion of a bio-prosthesis.
But in 2005, only three years later, Dimitri’s health once again took a turn for the worse. Doctors discovered that the prosthesis inserted in 2002 had calcified and was failing to function as it should. The prosthesis needed to be replaced. Surgery for Dimitri was, again, imminent.
And again, the Children’s Emergency Medical Fund came to the rescue. Plan Burkina Faso sent Dimitri for his second intervention at the beginning of 2006.
What does Dimitri’s future hold?
Dimitri is, today, in good health. However, he must still receive follow-up visits and take medicine to stay healthy and strong. Cost will always be a concern—especially as Dimitri will soon be 18, and no longer covered by Plan’s sponsorship program.
Plan Burkina Faso is currently researching means of providing funding for Dimitri’s continued treatment—including the possibility of another surgery in the future.
Donate today to our Children’s Emergency Medical Fund, you can help us save more children, like Dimitri, afflicted by serious and even life-threatening conditions.
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But in one way he is not—his heart.
Dimitri has a potentially fatal heart condition. A condition that requires constant supervision and treament. A condition that his family could never afford to treat on their own.
But you—yes, you!—may be helping to save him. Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, our Children’s Emergency Medical Fund has been able to provide Dimitri with life-saving surgery—not once, but twice, so far.
No time to waste
Dimitri was eight when his heart condition was first discovered, but not until he was 12 did his situation worsen. A routine clinical assessment in 2002 revealed an insufficiently operating mitral valve. Dimitri needed immediate surgery.
This is when the generosity of our supporters became life-saving.
As no hospital in Burkina Faso was equipped to perform Dimitri's heart surgery, he needed to be flown to France's Haut-Leveque Hospital. Dimitri’s family could not afford the cost of travel, the operation and the extended hospital stay Dimitri would need. But thanks to Plan USA’s Children’s Emergency Medical Fund, Dimitri was able to receive the care he needed.
In 2002, Dimitri successfully underwent a double aortic and mitral valvulopathy, with the insertion of a bio-prosthesis.
But in 2005, only three years later, Dimitri’s health once again took a turn for the worse. Doctors discovered that the prosthesis inserted in 2002 had calcified and was failing to function as it should. The prosthesis needed to be replaced. Surgery for Dimitri was, again, imminent.
And again, the Children’s Emergency Medical Fund came to the rescue. Plan Burkina Faso sent Dimitri for his second intervention at the beginning of 2006.
What does Dimitri’s future hold?
Dimitri is, today, in good health. However, he must still receive follow-up visits and take medicine to stay healthy and strong. Cost will always be a concern—especially as Dimitri will soon be 18, and no longer covered by Plan’s sponsorship program.
Plan Burkina Faso is currently researching means of providing funding for Dimitri’s continued treatment—including the possibility of another surgery in the future.
Donate today to our Children’s Emergency Medical Fund, you can help us save more children, like Dimitri, afflicted by serious and even life-threatening conditions.
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