The joy of the mother of a 4 year old girl, Christabel Mamle who has been suffering from hole in heart otherwise referred to as atrial septal defect turned into tears, when the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) presented a cheque of $9,000 in Ghana Cedis equivalent, to the National Cardiothoracic Center of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
The Cheque was presented by Rev. S. T. Kwao, Minister in charge of Atua St. Paul congregation and Clerk for the Dangme Tongu Presbyterian Church of Ghana yesterday to the Account Unit of the National Cardiothoracic Center to enable the center perform a surgery for Christabel Mamle.
The unfortunate girl, Christabel Mamle was diagnosed of hole in heart at age two by the Atua Government Hospital and has been referred to the Korle-Bu National Cardio Center for advanced diagnosis and confirmation.
Doctors had confirmed, Christabel Mamle is suffering from hole in heart, and had requested for $9,000 as cost of surguery.
Father of Christabel, Mr John Terkpertey Kwame, a Catechist at Brepaw-Kpeti in the Asesewa Pastoral District and resident teacher in same community, told Rite FM his effort to raise fund since his daughter was diagnosed of hole in heart was unsuccessful until his appeal fell on the table of the Presbyterian Church.
The entire Presbyterian congregation across Ghana, led by Rev. Professor Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante as well as the chairman of the Dangme-Tongu Presbytery, Rev. Samuel A. Odjelua has contributed its widows mite to save the young girl following a letter from Ghana’s great teaching hospital, Korle-Bu, indicating Mamle’s condition requires nine thousand dollars.
Accompanying the leader of delegation, Rev. S. T. Kwao were Rev. Ishmael Aferdi of El-Shaddai congregation – Krobo Girls, Director of administration and human resource manager for Dangme Tongu Presbytery, Mrs Beatrice Odame Asare and Rev. C. A. Charway – associate minister for Ebenezer congregation and public Relation Officer for Dangme Tongu Presbytery.
Mr Joseph Kwame and the wife who asked for God’s blessing and long life for the donors were thankful to the Presbyterian church of Ghana for it support and love shown to them in such difficult time of their life. He appealed the church to extend similar love to all when the need arises.
Mr Eric Asumang, the account officer at the Korle-Bu Cardiothoracic Center, who received the money on behalf of the hospital assured the surgery will be done in due time.
An atrial septal defect is a birth defect of the heart in which there is a hole in the wall that divides the upper chambers, atria of the heart. A hole can vary in size and may close on its own or may require surgery. An atrial septal defect is one type of congenital (present at birth) heart defect.
As a baby’s heart develops during pregnancy, there are normally several openings in the wall dividing the upper chambers of the heart – atria. These usually close during pregnancy or shortly after birth.
If one of these openings does not close, a hole is left. The hole increases the amount of blood that flows through the lungs and over time, it may cause damage to the blood vessels in the lungs. Damage to the blood vessels in the lungs may cause problems in adulthood, such as high blood pressure in the lungs and heart failure. Other problems may include abnormal heartbeat, and increased risk of stroke.
Person with hole in hear or atria septal defect shows signs and symptoms of frequent respiratory or lung infections, difficulty breathing, tiring when feeding (infants), skipped heartbeats, swelling of legs, feet or stomach, stroke among others.
Source: ritefmonline.org
