By Diane Morgan | Director of Development and Marketing
The HeartGift Foundation has provided lifesaving heart surgery for over 175 children since 2000. In 2012 we expanded our referral sources and now serve children in 24 countries. Since we launched our GlobalGiving project, HeartGift hosted Ryan, a little two year old from Kenya. Ryan traveled to the United States for his surgery accompanied by his grandmother because his mother was due to have another baby. A local family hosted Ryan and his mother for their five week stay in Austin. Shortly after his arrival he had his pre-op appointments in preparation for his surgery. On the morning of surgery, after Ryan he was wheeled back to the OR, his grandmother remained quiet and solemn. She was clinging to the hope she had that he survive. Ryan's surgery went very well. The moment his grandmother saw him again as the medical team shelled him to recovery she smiled broadly and gave high fives to everyone in the waiting area. She was so relieved and happy that her little grandson was going to live. She placed a call to Ryan's mother to share the great news. During Ryan's recovery a number of volunteers offered their translation services so his grandmother could more easily understand all that was going on. Amazingly, one of these volunteers came from a village not too far away from Ryan's home and was of the same tribe. Ryan's grandmother was thrilled to talk to someone in her tribal language - what a blessing, what a wonderful gift. Ryan steadily recovered and returned to his humble home in Kenya. He was a ball of energy and full of life when he left, looking forward to a healthy future.
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