On the lush green Hanggai Grassland in Ulan Maodou in June, a public welfare event that will change the fate of children with congenital heart disease is brewing. From June 28 to 29th, the project team of BUCF led a team of cardiac surgery experts from the Capital Medical University Affiliated Capital Children's Medical Center, carrying a full load of love and professional cardiac ultrasound equipment, once again set foot on this land to carry out the second phase of congenital heart disease screening for children aged 0-18 in Horqin Right Front Banner, Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. They will bring high-quality medical resources from the capital to every family in need in remote ethnic areas, across mountains and seas.
Reaching deep into pastoral areas, ensuring health care is accessible everywhere
At 5 a.m. on the 28th, the project team and medical expert group of the foundation rushed to Beijing Capital Airport and took the early flight to Ulanhot Yililete Airport. They arrived at the Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Horqin Right Front Banner at 9:30 a.m. After making relevant preparations, they took the lead in conducting the first congenital heart disease screening. Many parents came early with their children, their eyes filled with both anticipation and anxiety. Director Zhang Hui and Doctor Ren Jun from the Capital Medical University Affiliated Capital Children's Medical Center patiently listened to each child's heart and performed echocardiography, carefully answering parents' questions.
At 8 a.m. on the 29th, the screening team drove to the more remote Ulan Maodou Sumu Health Center. The roads on the grassland were winding and twisting, but the Foundation never stopped its pace - we knew that the children there needed this "heart" of hope even more. Starting at 10 a.m., the medical expert team meticulously examined and diagnosed the children in the pastoral area at the Sumu Health Center, explaining their conditions. A total of 33 children were screened this time, and 7 of them were diagnosed with congenital heart disease and met the surgical indications. In the future, the Foundation will work with the local health department to mobilize and arrange for the families of the affected children to come to Beijing for surgery, enjoy the fast-track referral for treatment, and receive subsidies for surgical expenses. With professionalism and love, we will restart a healthy life for the children.
The best gift is that all the reviewed children have fully recovered
What made us even more delighted was that the seven children who underwent surgery and were screened in the first phase in February this year also made a special trip to come for a follow-up examination. Under the stethoscope, the children's hearts beat strongly; in their smiles, there was boundless longing for the future. Zhu Youcheng (pseudonym), a five-month-old post-operative child, had his grandmother holding the doctor's hand and choking up, saying, "The child is now particularly easy to take care of, doesn't cry or make trouble, and his weight has increased. He is just like a healthy baby. Thank you for giving him a new life!"
Let love continue, and protect every childlike innocence
Congenital heart disease is not insurmountable. Early detection and treatment can change a child's destiny. Beijing United Charity Foundation will continue to pay attention to the children in Horqin Right Front Banner, Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and work together with local government departments to light up the hope of families with sick children through the three-in-one working method of "local preliminary screening - expert diagnosis - surgery in Beijing".
May every child have a healthy heartbeat;
May every journey lead to the blooming of life.
