4-year-old Sanusey is 4,000th child helped by Save a Child’s Heart

Four-year-old Sanusey from Gambia is the 4,000th child to receive life-saving heart surgery through the Israeli charity Save A Child’s Heart, the organization announces.

Sanusey suffers from a congenital heart defect that could only be corrected through an operation not available in Gambia.

Sanusey has been in Israel for the past month, together with 12 other children from Tanzania and Gambia brought by the charity for heart surgery.

After a successful hours-long operation at the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon in mid-May, the boy is reportedly recovering quickly.

A statement from the charity says:

Dr. Lior Sasson and his medical team operated on Sanusey for hours. Penda sat in the waiting room, crying and hoping for the best. Thankfully, the surgery was successful! Only three days after his operation, Sanusey was sitting up in bed and smiling. He is currently recovering at the Save a Child’s Heart Children’s Home in Holon. His contagious laughter bellows through the house as he plays with volunteers and the array of toy trucks and arts and crafts activities. He radiates confidence and it is a pleasure to see him play with the other children from all over the world, smiling, happy, and finally healthy.

Bringing Sanusey to Israel for life-saving heart surgery would not have been possible without the help and support of SACH UK and SACH Switzerland, who connected Save a Child’s Heart to the Sherman Trust who co-sponsored Sanusey’s surgery, and Brussels Airlines, who helped sponsor Sanusey’s flight.

Four-year-old Sanusey from Gambia recovers after life-saving heart surgery at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel. Sanusey is the 4,000th child to receive heart surgery from the Israeli charity Save a Child’s Heart. (Courtesy, Save a Child’s Heart)