When We first saw Birhan, a 20-year-old young woman, We were heartbroken. She was skin and bones, fragile, exhausted, and barely recognizable as the vibrant girl she once was. Her appearance was not only painful to see but a stark reflection of years of silent suffering. Birhan had discontinued her education long ago, not because of lack of ambition, but because of her failing heart. She had been living with severe Mitral Valve Stenosis, a condition caused by untreated tonsillitis that developed into Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) — all due to lack of timely care and resources.
For years, she waited... and with each passing day, she grew weaker. By the time she reached us, the damage was devastating.
But hope arrived just in time, Thanks to the unwavering support of Healing Valves Ethiopia (HVE) donors and the life-saving hands of our surgical team, Birhan received the cardiac procedure she so desperately needed.
