Shumima Sultan is an 11-year-old girl from the outskirts of Addis Ababa. Quiet, bright, and full of potential, her life took a difficult turn when she was diagnosed with Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) at a young age. Coming from a family with limited means, the cost of the life-saving cardiac surgery she needed was far beyond their reach. For years, Shumima remained on follow-up care, her condition managed but never cured. Her symptoms worsened, fatigue, shortness of breath, and constant weakness eventually forced her to drop out of school, leaving behind the classroom and friends she loved. But just when hope seemed distant, a miracle arrived.
Through the generous support of kindhearted donors, Shumima finally received the gift she had been waiting for, a chance at surgery. Today, she has undergone her life-saving cardiac procedure and is already on the road to recovery. Her future, once held back by illness, is now full of possibility. With a stronger heart and a hopeful spirit, Shumima can now return to school, dream freely, and live the life every child deserves. Her journey is a reminder that no child should be denied a future because of poverty or lack of access to care. Let’s continue to be the bridge between illness and healing, despair and hope
