Patient Voices
Ayesha
Healing the Heart, Preserving the Future
When four-year-old Ayesha (name changed) walked into the hospital holding her mother’s hand, few would guess that her tiny heart carried a silent burden from birth. Born with congenital heart disease, she had an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)—a hole in the wall separating the upper chambers of the heart.
ASD is one of the most common congenital heart defects. In some children, it can close on its own. In others, it requires medical intervention. Ayesha’s parents—both school teachers—noticed that she tired easily, became breathless during play, and often lagged behind her friends. Like many parents, they hoped for a simple solution.
Doctors carefully evaluated her condition. While many ASDs today can be closed using a catheter-based device, Ayesha’s defect was not suitable for device closure due to its size and location. Surgery was the only definitive solution. For her parents, the word surgery was frightening. For a child so young, they worried not only about survival, but also about pain, long-term effects, and the emotional impact the experience might leave behind.
They were then referred to our team for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS)—an advanced surgical technique that allows heart repair through a small incision on the side of the chest, without cutting through the breastbone. The operation was smooth and successful. We repaired the defect with precision, restoring normal blood flow and relieving the heart of unnecessary strain. Ayesha recovered quickly, returning to her playful self within days.
But for her family, one detail stood out with profound significance:
There is no visible scar on the front of her chest.
Traditional open-heart surgery often leaves a long, permanent scar across the chest. While lifesaving, such scars can become a lifelong reminder of illness—especially impactful for female patients. As girls grow, visible chest scars may affect self-esteem, body image, social confidence, and even future relationships. By avoiding a front-of-chest scar, MICS offers something beyond medical success. It protects a child’s psychological and social well-being. Ayesha will grow up without feeling “different.” She will not have to explain her scar at school, hide it in adolescence, or feel self-conscious as a young woman.
For a girl child, this matters.
Her parents often say that MICS did not just repair their daughter’s heart—it protected her future identity. As educators themselves, they understand how deeply confidence shapes a child’s life.
Today, Ayesha runs freely, laughs loudly, and dreams boldly. Her heart is whole. Her chest bears no visible mark of surgery. And her future is open—unrestricted by disease, fear, or stigma. This story is a reminder that modern cardiac surgery is no longer only about survival. It is about healing with compassion, preserving dignity, and allowing children—especially girls—to grow up with healthy hearts and unscarred confidence.
Prof. Dr. Md. Faizus Sazzad
(MBBS, MS, FCPS, FACS, FACC, FRCS, PhD),
Senior Consultant and Coordinator, Department of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery (CTVS), UNICO Hospitals PLC, Dhaka
Safwan
The Story of a Child with a Single Ventricle: A Journey of Struggle, Treatment, and Hope
Today, I wish to share with you the long and arduous journey of our family, centered around a child suffering from a pediatric congenital heart condition. Before doing so, I believe it is appropriate to briefly introduce myself and my family. My name is Ibrar Alam. I am 55 years old and work as a faculty member at a private university. I have two sons. My elder son, Ayin Abrar, is 19 years old. He studies at a school and is scheduled to appear for his A-Level A2 examinations this year. My younger son, Safwan Abrar, is 11 years old and currently a fifth-grade student. Safwan is a patient with Single Ventricle Physiology. This narrative primarily focuses on his life, struggles, and medical journey. Birth and the First Shock Safwan was born on 15 September 2014 at Central Hospital, Green Road, Dhaka, via a cesarean section early in the morning. On the very first night after birth, we noticed something unusual—he was crying excessively, and his lips appeared slightly bluish. A pediatrician examined him that night and, using a stethoscope and clinical assessment, detected a heart murmur. An echocardiogram was advised the following day.
On 16 September 2014, we took him to LabAid Hospital, where the renowned cardiologist Brigadier General Dr. Nurunnahar Fatema performed the echocardiography. She informed us that Safwan would require palliative surgery, including a future Restelli surgery. That moment left us terrified. Online research only deepened our fear as we realized how complex such surgeries are.
Seeking a second opinion, we visited the National Heart Foundation. Through my friend Zayed—who had studied at Comilla Cadet College—we contacted Dr. Nurul Hasan, as they were alumni of the same institution. A repeat echocardiogram was performed by Dr. Jasmine Hossain, who confirmed that Safwan would initially require a BT Shunt, followed by Restelli surgery later. She referred us to the eminent pediatric cardiac surgeon Professor Dr. Sharifuzzaman.
At that time, pediatric cardiac care in Bangladesh was largely centered at the Heart Foundation in Mirpur. After reviewing all reports, Professor Sharifuzzaman advised that Safwan’s body weight was too low and recommended advanced treatment abroad, preferably in India.
Treatment in India
We decided to go to Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, under the care of world-renowned surgeon Dr. K. S. Iyer, upon Professor Sharifuzzaman’s referral. In March 2015, we reached Delhi. After comprehensive investigations including echocardiography and CT angiography, the medical team informed us that Safwan had multiple complex cardiac anomalies. Overall, he was diagnosed with Single Ventricle Physiology.
They explained that the final surgical decision—BD Glenn or bilateral shunt—would be made after opening the chest in the operating theater. A long-term treatment roadmap was also shared, and we were encouraged to seek second opinions if we wished.
Having already received strong reassurance about Dr. Iyer from Professor Sharifuzzaman, Dr. Jasmine Hossain, and Dr. Nurul Hasan, we placed our full trust in their judgment.
- First Surgery: BD Glenn
- Safwan’s diagnosis was:
- d-TGA with intact VSD and severe pulmonary stenosis
Large inlet VSD - One large MAPCA arising from the descending aorta
- Tiny muscular VSD at the apex
On 21 March 2015, Safwan successfully underwent BD Glenn surgery. He stayed in the ICU for about five days and remained hospitalized for over a month. He was discharged on 9 April 2015, with clear instructions that Fontan surgery would be required in the future. We were advised to continue regular follow-ups at the National Heart Foundation under Dr. Nurul Hasan’s supervision after returning to Bangladesh.
Follow-up in Bangladesh and Preparation
Back in Bangladesh, we maintained regular follow-ups with Professor Sharifuzzaman and Dr. Nurul Hasan. At that time, it was determined that Safwan was not yet ready for Fontan surgery; the appropriate age would be around three to four years.
