The departure
Fatoumata was born in Guinea. Since birth she has shown symptoms of Tetralogy of Fallot, a cardiac pathology that cannot be treated in her country.
Thanks to our partners and supporters, Flying Angels manages to transfer her to Italy, where a specialized hospital is ready to welcome her and perform a life-changing surgery. Flying Angels also immediately offers assistance in the complex paperwork to obtain a visa, for which Fatoumata and her mother have to travel to Senegal first, before coming to Europe.
Surgery
Once in Genova, Fatoumata is immediately admitted to Gaslini Hospital, but she has a bad rash on her skin, which must be cured before her cardiac surgery.
In March, Fatoumata can finally receive a CT scan and undergo a first cardiac catheterization, which then allows the medical team to plan and schedule her surgery.
On March 17th, in compliance with the sanitary regulations against Covid 19, Fatoumata undergoes a hours-long delicate cardiac surgery, which is carried out successfully.
After her surgery, Fatoumata still struggles to breathe, her recovery is slow, and she needs to be isolated to avoid a Covid infection.
Her mom and dad are by her side the whole time, while her little sister is in Dakar with her aunt.
After six months, Fatoumata will need a further catheterization. Then, the majority of flights is cancelled due to Covid-19, and travelling becomes an even bigger threat to her precarious health.
Fatoumata has to wait a long time before being reunited with her sister, but she is now much healthier than before.
