Little Jessica Brown will celebrate her first birthday this weekend with a healthy heart.
After undergoing a four-hour surgery on September 23, Jessica received the gift of life and an emotional mother, Aida Hoyte would have it no other way.
Ms Hoyte said her daughter was born with two holes in her heart and had been sick for some time before they decided to travel from Levuka to Suva.
“So we came to CWM (Hospital), and they said the holes were still there and they needed to contact us every time we went for her check-up,” the 34-year-old said.
“When she got sick, we came back to Suva and were then referred to the Sai Prema Heart Foundation where an echo scan was done.
“There we were informed that a team was coming over and that if we could give our consent to let Jessica have a better life through this operation.”
Living with her seven children and husband at Wainaloka settlement in Levuka, and with farming as their only source of survival, Ms Hoyte could not let this opportunity go.
“My husband and I were happy to let Jessica have a chance at life and today I bear witness to this miracle.
“When I left her at the operation theatre, I was scared and I couldn’t stop, but I had faith that she would survive.
“Before my daughter’s heart beat didn’t sound strong as it does now.
“From this experience, I urge all parents to pay attention to their children when there are changes in their health and make use of the services provided here at the heart foundation.”
