7-year-old Abbas H. was only 6 days old when he was diagnosed with TWO rare heart defects: Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) and Pulmonary Atresia, both requiring staged surgeries and lifelong specialized care.

3-year-old Amal D. was diagnosed with Truncus Arteriosus and is in need to undergo a heart surgery. Family is composed of four members, and they live in in a rented house in "Kubbeh" in the North of Lebanon.

The first born in her family, 6-month-old Aseel underwent a cardiac intervention at birth for Polyvalvular heart disease, which occurs when the valves in the heart are damaged or don’t work properly.

At the age of 10, Hiba was diagnosed with a complex heart condition called Mitral Valve Stenosis which is a narrowing or blockage of the mitral valve inside the heart. Hiba’s condition was critical, and she was admitted for an urgent heart valve-replacement surgery.

The youngest of four siblings, one-year old Hussein was born with a Subaortic Membrane and a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), two complex congenital heart defects which obstruct and reduce the flow of blood to the body.

Ibrahim was diagnosed at birth with Tricuspid Atresia, Single Ventricle, a rare congenital heart defect otherwise known as "half a heart." It is one of the most complex heart condition, requiring a series of staged surgeries. Ibrahim had his first open-heart when he was just two weeks old and another at the age of 1.

In a Lebanon healing from war, 5-year-old Khaled was fighting for his life. Born with Tricuspid Atresia, a serious congenital heart defect, Khaled had already endured two open-heart surgeries and needed a final critical operation.

Kinda was diagnosed with Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), which is a hole in the heart, and Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR), a congenital disorder that causes abnormal blood flow from her lungs to her heart.  Kinda was due for heart surgery to repair her defects and needed urgent financial aid.

2-year-old Lucciana was diagnosed with Partial Atrioventricular Canal (AVC), a complex heart defect in which there is a hole in the chamber or wall of the heart and requires surgical repair. She already had her first heart surgery when she was a year old to close the valve and is now due for valve replacement, which is crucial for her health and growth. Without it, she is at risk of developing complications including lung damage and congestive heart failure.

5-year-old Maha’s heart has fought since the day she was born.  At Birth, she was diagnosed with Pulmonary Atresia, a life-threatening malformation of the pulmonary valve in the heart.  She was only 5 days old when she had her first open heart surgery at AUBMC’s Children’s Heart Center. 

The first born in her family, 6-month-old Mira was diagnosed with Double-Chambered Right Ventricle (DCRV) Ventricular Septal defect (VSD), a very rare congenital heart defect in which the right ventricle of the heart is divided. Babies with DCRV also have a VSD, which is a hole between the lower heart chambers.

Mira was born in an extremely vulnerable family. 

Born with Double Outlet Right Ventricle & Ventricular Septal Defect (severe Tetralogy of Fallot variant), a congenital heart defect that can be fatal if left untreated. Mohammad was due for surgery and needed urgent financial aid.

The youngest of four siblings, 3-year-old Mustafa was diagnosed with Atrioventricular Canal (AVC), which is a large hole in the center of the heart.  Mustafa needed surgery to repair the defect in his heart. If left untreated, AVC can cause many problems involving the heart and lungs.

4-year-old Nadine was born with a Single Ventricle, a rare birth defect in which the lower chamber of the heart does not develop, affecting normal blood flow through the heart.  It is one of the most complex pediatric heart conditions, requiring numerous surgeries which usually occur in three stages from the time of birth.

Nour was diagnosed at birth with Tricuspid Atresia, Single Ventricle, a rare congenital heart defect otherwise known as "half a heart."  It is one of the most complex pediatric heart conditions, requiring numerous surgeries which usually occur in three stages.

Omar S. was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), a condition caused by a combination of four heart malformations present at birth that affect normal blood flow through the heart. TOF is one of the most common congenital heart defects which can be fatal if left untreated.

Two-year old Shahd H.’s journey with Brave Heart and the Children’s Heart Center (CHC) at AUBMC began at birth when she was diagnosed with Doublet Inlet Left Ventricle, Single Ventricle, a rare heart defect in which the lower chamber of the heart does not develop.