Heart Surgery Saves Boy

An eight-year-old boy, Revano MacBride is enjoying playing street games with his friends. This comes after surgery to have a hole in his tiny heart repaired. The successful operation was made possible by Pelo Foundation together with its partners Busamed Hospital Group and Wings and Wishes.

There are over 500 children at the Eastern Cape Provincial Hospital, who are on the waiting list to have heart surgeries, and eight-year-old Revano was one of them.

Today, the little boy is out playing but wouldn’t normally do so, because he was sickly and seldom attended school. Revano was diagnosed with atrial septal defect, 18 months after birth.

His mom, Odette MacBride says her little boy is energetic – loves sports and playing on the beach. The family is grateful that after his operation he will be able to have a normal life – play around like other children his age.

“Revano is having the best time of his life. He goes to school regularly and has grown a big appetite. It’s all thanks to the successful operation,” she adds.

“The team at Busamed Paardevlei Private Hospital were warm to us and explained the operation in detail before it was performed. No words can explain the feeling.”

Renaldo Wentzel, Revano’s dad added: “Thank you to Busamed staff and doctors for giving our son a better and peaceful change in life. God bless everyone who made the operation a reality.”

It is estimated that 1 out of every 1 000 babies is born with congenital heart disease and that a newborn is added to the waiting list every six hours.

Pelo Foundation, a non-profit organization aims to raise funds and awareness for children like Revano MacBride, who are in serious need of heart treatment and surgeries. Wings and Wishes also a partner of the Foundation, transports the children and their parents/guardians from home to the hospitals and back.

“Thank you Wings and Wishes for an opportunity to be on the flight and experience the fantastic service from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town Airport. This was a lifetime experience and the gifts shared with my little boy, ” said Odette.

For more information regarding Pelo Foundation visit their website at www.pelofoundation.org

To Donate, contact Ms Nobuhle Nkosi at: nobuhle@pelofoundation.org or Ms Dudu Mvimbi Leshabane at: dudu@pelofoundation.org