ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
SEHA, a subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East, proudly presented the positive journey of Aarav, a 3-year-old boy with mosaic trisomy 8, cleft palate, and congenital heart disease. The story showcased the spirit of resilience, personalised multi-disciplinary care and the exceptional clinical skills that SEHA Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) offered the patient.
At birth, Aarav was diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect (VSD) and returned to the operative suite on August 8, 2024, for cardiac surgery, which corrected his heart defect.
Following that surgery, he was found to have pulmonary hypertension that has been successfully managed with close care.
Recently documented echocardiography confirmed normal ventricular function without residual VSD, and while there are still signs of pulmonary hypertension, his condition is improving with treatment with low-dose sildenafil.
Aarav will continue to come in for routine follow-ups at the cardiac clinic at SKMC, which includes ongoing monitoring and care in the pulmonary clinic, as well as ongoing care in the general paediatric clinics.
Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist at SEHA SKMC , Dr. Aref Al Hakami, said, "Through Aarav's journey, we have witnessed the remarkable strength of this young patient and the unwavering dedication of our medical team. Aarav's progress is a result of the collective and individual input, care, and support from multiple professions at SKMC, who are with us every step of the way."
Aarav's mother shared, "We were scared. We didn't really know what to expect. We knew we had a baby whom we loved. We knew that the baby had a serious heart defect. We knew that the baby would be fighting for his life from the time he was born. We found hope and strength through the support and expertise of the medical team at SKMC during some of the most difficult moments. Aarav's journey has taught us what resilience truly is, and how being treated with compassion makes a difference."
Aarav's story is a great example of SKMC's pathway to deliver all-encompassing, compassionate care through a multidisciplinary collaboration that empowers patients and families to thrive beyond their complex health situations.