Sanusey, 4, is 4,000th helped by Save a Child’s Heart

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

Sanusey suffers from a congenital heart defect that could only be corrected through an operation not available in the West African nation.

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

After a successful hours-long operation at the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon in mid-May, the boy was reported to be recovering quickly.

“Dr. Lior Sasson and his medical team operated on Sanusey for hours,” the charity said. His older sister “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.”

From left to right: Dr. Demeke, pediatric cardiologist from Ethiopia, Dr. Alona Raucher, Sanusey, Dr. Sion Houri, Revital Cohen, Nava Gershon. (Sheila Shalhevet, via Save A Child’s Heart)

Sanusey is recovering at the Save a Child’s Heart Children’s Home in Holon, the statement added. “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.”

Sanusey, a Gambian four-year-old who underwent life-saving heart surgery in Israel (Stella Shalhevet/Save a Child’s Heart)

The charity said bringing Sanusey to Israel “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.”