Success Story
Read how a free surgery funded by Transparent Hands donors transformed a patient's life.
Fazeela Shahbaz, a 5-year-old girl from Jhelum, had been suffering from shortness of breath and chest discomfort since birth. Activities such as running or climbing stairs left her gasping for air. Her parents also noticed that her skin often turned blue, especially during exertion. These symptoms limited her ability to play freely and affected her growth and development. Concerned about their daughter’s condition, Fazeela’s parents took her to a local hospital for medical evaluation. After conducting necessary clinical examinations and diagnostic tests, the doctor diagnosed her with Tetralogy of Fallot. This congenital heart defect is a combination of four structural abnormalities that disrupt normal blood flow. To correct these defects, the doctor recommended angiography, followed by open-heart surgery for total correction.
However, the cost of the surgery was beyond the family’s financial means. Fazeela lives in a two-room brick house with her parents and three other family members. Her father and grandfather both work as daily wage laborers. Together, they earn only PKR 52,000 per month, which is barely sufficient to manage household expenses. Saving money for complex cardiac surgery was impossible for the family. In this difficult situation, her family turned to Transparent Hands and asked us to register her case.
On November 16, 2025, Fazeela Shahbaz was admitted to the Ittefaq Hospital, Lahore. After successful angiography, Dr. Asim Khan performed open-heart surgery for total correction on November 19, 2025. The procedure went smoothly. She was discharged in stable condition on November 23, 2025.
Fazeela’s parents expressed their heartfelt gratitude as follows: “We are grateful to you for making our daughter’s surgery possible during a time when we had no means to help her. We can now see a gradual improvement in her strength and activity. Your generosity has given her new hope and strength.”
Fazeela Shahbaz is recovering smoothly and showing encouraging signs of improvement. As she heals, she will soon be able to participate in daily activities with greater comfort. Her family is immensely grateful to you and the PCHF for ensuring her recovery from cardiac disease.