Brave little fighter on the road to recovery

Meet Kairo, a brave little fighter who, at just 7 weeks old, was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect, also known as a hole in the heart. His strong spirit never wavered, and he faced each day with a smile, despite his pain and suffering.

As Kairo grew older, his condition began to take a toll on his body. By the time he was 4 years old, he had very little energy and was unable to enjoy the activities that other children his age took for granted. His parents were heartbroken to see him struggling and longed to see him running and playing with his friends. Unfortunately, they did not have the sufficient funds, or insurance, for the life-saving treatment Kairo desperately needed.

Hope came in the form of Al Jalila Foundation and long-time partner Emirates NBD who rallied their network to raise funds for Kairo’s medical care. The operation was a success and Kairo’s life was transformed. His heart grew stronger and he was filled with energy and joy.

Over the school holidays, Kairo was finally able to travel to see his extended family, where he had such a wonderful time and was so full of energy that he could even outrun his cousins.

Kairo’s parents were overwhelmed with gratitude to everyone who helped make Kairo’s recovery possible. “It has now been three months since the operation and our precious boy is getting stronger every day. We cannot express our gratitude enough to everyone who stepped in to help us. In our darkest time we were given the greatest gift of all: the gift of having our child with us, healthy, happy and full of life.”