Mariam's story
Mariam was born with Down syndrome but her heart disease, although often associated, was diagnosed only later during a visit to the GP. To take care of Mariam, her mother had to leave her job; fortunately she could count on the support of her husband and her mother, the little girl's grandmother.
Mariam is a sunny little girl who loves to share and be cuddled. Her heart disease manifests itself with severe breathing difficulties under stress. There are no pharmaceutical treatments for her condition, but the only possible intervention is an operation. In Ivory Coast there are neither the professionals nor the equipment necessary to proceed with this type of surgical correction, but Mariam's mother manages to get in touch with our partner "Una Voce per Padre Pio" who takes charge of the little girl by submitting her case to us.
After the appropriate tests, Mariam flies with her mother to the “Ospedale del cuore” in Taormina and the operation goes so well that, after only 15 days from her arrival in Italy, she is back at the airport, surrounded by the affection of the volunteers, to return to Abidjan to her family.
The departure
Mariam leaves Abidjan on July 26 and lands in Catania where she is welcomed by the Guardian Angels and, immediately after, by the leaders of the Partner Association.
Surgery
The little girl was admitted to the San Vincenzo Hospital in Taormina and immediately underwent surgery to correct her congenital heart disease with pulmonary hypertension.
Back home
It only takes a few days for Mariam to fully recover. She has already won over all the medical staff and volunteers who accompany her to the airport, ready for her future. On August 11 Mariam flies home.
Mariam's journey lasted 15 days: two weeks and nearly 15,000 miles to change the course of a life.
