They transplanted a non-functioning heart to a 2-year-old baby and now he struggles for his life: "We hope for a miracle"
A two-year-old baby in Argentina, who underwent a heart transplant after a lengthy wait, remains in critical condition, struggling to recover after complications from the surgery.
On December 23, as families across Argentina prepared for Christmas, a couple at the Monaldi Hospital in Naples received news that a compatible heart was available for their 2-year-old son, diagnosed with severe dilated cardiomyopathy since he was four months old. After waiting two years on the transplant list, the family believed they finally had a chance at a new life. However, fifty days post-surgery, the child remains hospitalized in critical condition, having never awakened from anesthesia. The boy has been in a pharmacological coma and is connected to an ECMO machine, which assists with his vital functions. His mother expressed her desperation, stating, "Time is running out, my son is not well, and he is in grave condition. He has been fighting between life and death for 50 days." The past two years had surprisingly allowed the child to live a near-normal life despite his condition, managing with pharmaceutical treatment and playtime, making the heart transplant a supposed turning point for his health. The situation raises significant concerns regarding the transplant itself and the challenges that have led to the current dire state of the child. Family, friends, and the medical community are now praying for a miracle that will enable the boy to overcome this critical phase and potentially regain his health. It shines a light on the unpredictability of transplant surgeries, especially in younger patients, and the vital need for continued advancements in medical treatments for congenital heart conditions.