The baby with a bilateral cleft lip and a series of complex congenital heart defects in Tien Giang

We met Tran Jet again when he attended our Mobile Outreach clinic in Tien Giang province this September 2022. Jet was among eight children who received another indication for intervention and surgical procedure.

Back in October 2016 when he was born, his pediatrician at Tien Giang Maternity hospital recommended his family immediately go see a pediatric cardiologist at Nhi Dong 2 in HCMC for a more advanced evaluation of the infant’s condition. He was born with a bilateral cleft lip and a series of complex heart defects. Soon after, Jet underwent two times of open-heart surgeries in 2017 & 2019, then three times of angioplasties, and a few times of in-patient pneumonia treatments. Even though those surgical costs were sponsored by HBVN and our partners, travel or caregivers’ meals costs as well as the long-term unemployment did put Jet’s parents in dilemma. Till now, Jet’s cleft lip and cleft palate still cannot be repaired because of the boy’s serious cardiac health.

Jet is the youngest in the family of five. He has an 18-year-old brother and a 16-year-old sister. The family is certified as a “near-poor” household. Jet’s father is earning a meager income from his precarious work, while Jet’s mom engages most of her time in household chores and taking care of him.

Through the recent Outreach clinic, Jet was diagnosed with dextrocardia, univentricular heart, tricuspid atresia, pulmonary artery atresia, atrial septal defect, and collateral circulation. Jet is awaiting his coming intervention and another major heart surgery with a cost of more than 160 million VND.

Jet is one of the typical examples of many complex congenital heart surgeries that Heartbeat Vietnam has been supporting for many years. During that long journey, we have also seen his development step by step. Jet is now 107cm and 18kg. Those are things many people may take for granted. Yet for Jet’s parents, these are causes for celebration. Over years, with every centimeter the boy grows taller; with every kilogram, he gets; every day Jet and his family gain strength and hope.

The previous help has paved the way for Jet to have sustainable health to continue to fight the disease, and in 2022, HBVN is thrilled to continue having your support so that we are able to give this adorable little boy a chance to live a more normal life.

Join hands with us to help with Jet’s surgery HERE.