Back to an active life

For a little over two weeks now, six-year-old Delux has been recovering from a successful Fontan procedure in the cardiac intensive care unit at Kantha Bopha Hospital in Siem Reap. This is the last of a total of three surgeries she has had to undergo as part of her treatment.

Delux was born with a complex congenital heart defect in which only the left ventricle functions adequately. Such heart defects require a multi-stage treatment that begins in infancy. A few years ago, she underwent what is known as the Glenn procedure. In this procedure, a portion of the oxygen-poor blood is routed directly to the lungs via the superior vena cava to relieve the strain on the heart. The Fontan procedure, which has now been completed, finalized this circulatory system. In this procedure, the inferior vena cava is connected directly to the pulmonary artery. This allows the deoxygenated blood from the lower half of the body to be oxygenated directly in the lungs without first having to flow through the non-functioning right ventricle.

The parents remained patiently by their daughter’s side throughout her treatment. It should be noted that in Cambodia, it is customary for parents to assist in caring for their children during a hospital stay. They trusted the treating physicians, especially the surgeon Dr. Ladin, from day one and were convinced that their daughter was receiving the best possible care at Kantha Bopha Hospital.

Today, the focus is on her recovery. Day by day, the six-year-old is regaining her strength. We were especially delighted to see Delux becoming more and more active, starting to play again, and finally being able to enjoy her favorite meal – pizza. Even though regular medical checkups will continue to be an important part of her life, the Fontan procedure now offers her significantly better prospects for the future. It gives Delux the opportunity to lead a more active and carefree life.

We wish Delux and her family all the best and hope that she will now be able to experience many wonderful moments with her friends and family.

With warm regards from Siem Reap

Chris and Marco