Open hearts can help sick boy
MUHAMMAD Tabrez Mamdoo’s parents would love nothing more than to see him join in the rough-andtumble play of childhood — but first they need to raise R600 000 for a heart operation.
The Durban four-year-old suffers from pulmonary atresia, a relatively rare disease in which the pulmonary valve does not form properly. He needs to undergo specialist surgery in the UK by February or early March next year.
“He previously underwent open heart surgery in 2011, but now his oxygen levels are dropping and he requires fairly urgent repeat surgery,” said the boy’s car- diologist, Dr Jeff Harrisberg. “Due to the complexity of his heart problem, our team of surgeons are not able to perform this type of surgery in South Africa. Muhammad needs to go to the Birm-
Thanks to the people of South Africa, this was all possible
ingham Children’s Hospital in the UK where the expertise is available.”
Muhammad’s mother, chemical technology student Zakiyya Mamdoo, hopes that after the surgery he will have the same energy levels as other children. “We would be able to put him in school and he would be able to socialise with other children [and] not always be the sickly child,” she said.
The surgery would be carried out by Dr David Barron, who operated on baby Kiara Pillay to correct the same condition last year. Kiara’s parents, Jerome and Bronwyn Pillay, are friends of the Mamdoos.
Muhammad’s father, Junaid, said: “I was afraid of doing this and Jerome told me no, go for it. Kiara went for the operation and she came back and she’s OK.”
Harrisberg said Muhammad stood a greater chance of a good recovery if he was sent to the UK as soon as possible. “We want to send him while he’s in a relatively good condition, which he is now.”
The Pillays have pledged to contribute to the costs of the Mamdoos’ flights.
“I know this is life changing because that is what it has done for our family,” said Jerome Pillay.
“Kiara is a busy girl, full of energy, and just seeing her every day smiling and living a normal life brings joy to our hearts. Thanks to the people of South Africa, this was all possible and we are forever indebted to them. We would like the same for this innocent little boy.”
Donations can be deposited into Absa savings account 9271888763, branch code 632-005 (Overport City), in the name of MT Mamdoo