Little Girls from Afghanistan Come to Jacksonville for Life-Saving Heart Care
Children Are Third and Fourth that Patrons of the Hearts Has Brought to U.S. from Afghanistan

Jacksonville, Florida, September 10, 2009 -- On September 3, 2009, eight-year-old Fakhreia and nine-year-old Moska, both from Kabul, Afghanistan, arrived in Jacksonville for life-saving heart treatment through Patrons of the Hearts. Both girls traveled with an interpreter.

Fakhreia and Moska are the third and fourth children from Afghanistan to be helped by Patrons of the Hearts, a Jacksonville-based non-profit organization that brings underprivileged children with complex congenital heart problems from developing nations to Jacksonville for treatment by pediatric heart specialists affiliated with Wolfson Children's Hospital and the University of Florida/Jacksonville (UF/Jacksonville). In May 2006, two-year-old Azad and eight-year-old Tamin came to Jacksonville for successful heart surgery. (It is hoped that Azad will return in early 2010 for the second stage of his surgery to repair his complex heart condition.)

Fakhreia was born with an atrial septal defect, a hole between the upper chambers of her heart. This has led to delayed growth and weakness; at times, she is unable to even move her fingers.

Her father said, in an appeal for help from American doctors: "We are eight people living in our family, four daughters and two sons. We are living in a rental house which has three rooms, one room is for my own family, the second one for my father's family, including my single brother and sister, and the third room is for my brother's family...Our family's economy is not good and I do not have money to pay for Fakhreia's operation and hospital charges. That is why I wish to send my daughter Fakhria to the USA...for heart surgery and treatment." Fakhreia's surgery took place on September 8, at Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville and she is recovering well.

Moska was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a large hole between the pumping chambers combined with obstruction of blood flow to her lungs. This condition has caused her to have trouble breathing while walking, bruising all over her body, and misshapen fingernails and toenails. Earlier this summer, Moska traveled to North Carolina, where her heart condition was diagnosed as more severe than expected. Unable to find a surgeon and physician at that time to perform heart surgery, she returned to Afghanistan until her family received an offer from Patrons of the Hearts to provide the life-saving care she needs. Moska's surgery also took place on September 8, at Wolfson Children's Hospital. She is also recovering well.

Both girls received this care thanks to two organizations, Solace for the Children and Patrons of the Hearts. Solace for the Children is a North-Carolina based nonprofit organization of volunteers that provides medical and dental care to needy children, primarily through a summer hosting program in which children from Afghanistan come to the United States and stay with American families while they receive treatment.

Services are donated by the physicians, Wolfson Children's and UF/Jacksonville. Travel and medical supply expenses for the girls are covered through donations to Solace for the Children.

NOTE: Patrons of the Hearts will hold its annual fundraising event, Artscapade 2009, on October 29, 2009, at Jane Gray Gallery, Daryl Bunn Studios, beginning at 6:30 pm. This year's "Best Party of the Year" features "An African Encounter" that includes dance performances by the Attitude Dancers, Najmah and Nan Nkama Koral; Ethiopian contortionist Free; and rhythmic drumming by the Nyama Thunder Drums, with music by DJ-Spotless Doctor. The event also features a cash-and-carry Arab-African marketplace; a live auction of art from local and regional artists, along with trips to Mexico and South Africa, emceed by local sports personality Cole Pepper; a silent auction; and African and Arabic cuisine. Artscapade 2009 is presented by FaverGray.