mending kids fights to save zainabu

After two years and a handful of setbacks, Mending Kids Tanzania ARM Mission Welcomes Back 5-Year-Old Zainabu. 
Mending Kids first met little Zainabu in fall of 2016 in Mwanza, Tanzania. Zainabu was selected to be one of the patients for our Mending Kids Tanzania Colorectal mission but when our anesthesiologist examined her, he detected a large heart murmur and she was deemed too risky to treat.
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Our Mending Kids Director of Global Outreach, Isabelle Fox,  made another attempt to have Zainabu seen in Dar Es Salaam but was unsuccessful. She was unwilling to take no for an answer so she quickly reached out to another partner organization who were also emotionally invested in little Zainabu. In the meantime, the local Tanzanian cardiologist put Zainabu on a medication to stabilize her heart condition while she awaited surgery.

There was an Open Hearts International mission scheduled for that October and the lead surgeon agreed to operate on her. One last time, Mending Kids made the arrangements for Mom and daughter to travel back to the JKCI one last time. And finally, Zainabu received her life-saving surgery.


This week Dr. Frischer reunited with Zainabu and now that her heart has been repaired he was able to correct her colorectal malformation. Zainabu will be able to attend school in the near future and lead a healthier and more hopeful life. Mending Kids will keep you updated on her progress.