Warmth Delivered Across the Globe... Samsung Seoul Hospital Performs Surgery on 6 Children with Congenital Heart Disease in Haiti

Suspended Since COVID-19, Recently Resumed, 10th Year This Year
Recovering Health After Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease Difficult to Treat Locally

A commemorative event organized by Samsung Medical Center's Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Hospital to celebrate the discharge of Haitian children. The children will return to Haiti on the 20th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] McClay (2), born in Haiti in May 2020, was diagnosed with a congenital heart disease called 'Fallot's Tetralogy.' Without surgery, 95% of patients die before the age of 40, and if there are no accompanying malformations, surgery must be performed before the age of 2 to reduce the mortality rate to around 2-3%.

However, McClay was unable to receive proper treatment due to difficult circumstances and the poor medical conditions locally. While other babies were just learning to walk, McClay had difficulty walking and occasionally experienced hypoxic seizures even with slight movement. Seeing McClay cry out in sudden severe pain, his parents could only worry helplessly.

A ray of hope came to McClay's family. With the support of Samsung Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Hospital and Oryun Church (Daniel Prayer Meeting), McClay came to Korea and safely underwent heart surgery. Along with McClay, six children from Haiti with congenital heart diseases such as ventricular septal defect and severe pulmonary stenosis received surgery and regained their health.

Samsung Medical Center prepared a commemorative event on the 20th for the children returning to Haiti. Representing the families of Haitian patients, McClay’s mother expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am thankful to the medical staff at Samsung Medical Center and all the many people in Korea who supported us. McClay’s heart surgery is a miracle, a success, and feels like a dream.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Samsung Medical Center’s support for surgery for children with congenital heart disease in Haiti. Since 2013, medical staff from the Heart and Vascular Hospital, including Professor Song Jin-young of Pediatrics who specializes in pediatric heart disease, and cardiac surgeons Professors Jeon Tae-guk and Yang Ji-hyuk, have contributed their efforts.

There were many difficulties in inviting the children again after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. Samsung Medical Center actively worked to invite the children, even acting as a guarantor institution for visa issuance under the stricter procedures caused by COVID-19. Professor Yang Ji-hyuk, who performed the surgeries, said, “Despite the difficult conditions due to COVID-19, thanks to the help of many people, we were able to save precious lives, and as a member of the medical staff, I am grateful.”

Professor Song Jin-young, head of the congenital heart disease team, said, “Samsung Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Hospital pursues collaborative care and happiness for all. As we have done so far, we will continue to take the lead in saving patients with heartbreaking heart diseases, even if they are overseas patients far away, in the fields where we excel.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.