A heartbeat of hope for 25 years and counting.
For 25 years, a global network of doctors, family members, volunteers, and supporters of Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) have helped us bring lifesaving cardiac care to children in need around the world.
Didier arrived in Israel at the age of nine years and eight months old from Kigali, Rwanda, for a life-saving heart operation after developing rheumatic heart disease.
He is one of the four of the very first group of children from Rwanda to be treated by Save a Child's Heart, and the first child treated from the country. Because of his cardiac condition, Didier suffered from breathlessness and difficulty at mild physical activities. In his referral letter to Save a Child’s Heart, Didier’s cardiologist, Dr. Joseph Mucumbitsi, wrote: “He is progressively deteriorating...[and] requires an urgent referral abroad...before irreversible myocardial failure.” After arriving in Israel, Didier underwent successful surgical repair on September 5, 2007. Didier is now 23 years old and studying Computer Engineering at the University of Rwanda.
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We first met Khayrat in 2016 as a sweet and smiley two-and-a-half-year-old in need of life-saving cardiac care.
Following her procedure in Israel, she returned home to Zanzibar, where she continued to be followed up with locally and by visiting SACH missions. But many children, like Khayrat, require more than one cardiac intervention to survive into adulthood. That's why at SACH we say, "Once a SACH child, always a SACH child." In 2020, Khayrat returned to Israel once again for repair of her condition and we're happy to say is doing well after two life-saving cardiac catheterization procedures.
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Mahmad is a 16-year-old boy from Jericho, first evaluated at our pediatric cardiology clinic in 2005.
Mahmad was first treated by Save a Child's Heart at just ten months old. He continued to be followed up with, attending the clinic for Palestinian families on an ongoing basis. Requiring subsequent treatment, Mahmad was admitted for cardiac catheterization in 2019 and in 2021, returned for another life-saving surgery. Now 17, Mahmad loves to play soccer. In his city, Jericho, he volunteers with the elderly population. He also helps an environmental group with urban cleanup. After graduating high school, Mahmad looks forward to attending university.
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Clarence underwent a life-saving cardiac catheterization procedure in Israel 11 years ago on March 18, 2010.
Then, five years old, Clarence enjoyed writing, drawing and listening to music. Now an eleventh-grader, Clarence excels in Math, physics and chemistry. He dreams of becoming a pediatric cardiologist so that he can help other children like him receive the access to care that they need.
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David from Romania came to Israel twice in his young life. He was treated in Israel in 2016 as one year old and then again in 2017.
Congenital heart disease is responsible for more deaths in the first year of life than any other birth defect. His procedures were successful, but David still needs to be followed up closely to ensure he is healing properly as he continues to grow. As an energetic seven-year-old, he is growing well and has also developed well for his age. His mother tells us that he loves to play video games with his older brother, loves to play and run around, and is in school now. She expressed her appreciation for SACH and is hopeful that he will not need future treatments but knows that we will always be there for David and his cardiac needs. His mother is expecting another child as we wish the best for her and her family.
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Meron is a 28-year-old woman from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She came to Save a Child's Heart first when she was a teenager and again in September of 2018 for a repair.
Meron was diagnosed with her heart condition with no symptoms many years ago. The kind of heart disease is a type of defect or malformation in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occurs before birth. When Meron returned to SACH she was an adult who was studying medicine in Ethiopia. She functioned as a huge support to the younger children from Ethiopia and other countries as she has been through the experience herself. Volunteers got extremely close with her as well. Now a doctor who is married and has a child of her own on the way, we are grateful to have stayed connected to her and her care, and are impressed with the amazing work she is doing as a doctor in Ethiopia.
Lean MoreOver 25 years, our community has grown worldwide. Together, the children, their families, our partners and trainees, the medical team in Israel, and generous donors make up the global community it takes to save a life.
The search to find Julius may have taken place recently, but this journey really began years ago...
We first met Julius in 2011. Due to his heart condition, he couldn't run or play and although when our doctors first met him they weren't sure that it would be possible to save his life, they took on the challenge. Julius stole our hearts as the main character of the documentary 'A Heartbeat Away,' which followed his remarkable journey from Tanzania to Israel. After his successful surgery, we stayed in touch with Julius and watched him grow. Today, he is 15. He has just finished his Grade 7 National Exam and received the 2020 award for disciplined student of the year at his school.
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With both of his parents passing when he was only six, Yared lived on the streets scrounging for food and basic existence in Ethiopia.
When doctors discovered he had Rheumatic Heart Disease, he was referred to Save a Child’s Heart by Dr. Etsegenet, a former SACH trainee in cardiology, and arrived in Israel in 1999. He was treated by the founder of Save a Child’s Heart, the late Dr. Ami Cohen. Following his return to Ethiopia, Yared finished his schooling and pursued a career in the field of education. He founded The School of St Yared in 2009. The school now provides classes, educational materials and daily meals to 200 kindergarten and primary-aged children who live in poverty, each year.
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Mahmad is a 16-year-old boy from Jericho, first evaluated at our pediatric cardiology clinic in 2005.
Mahmad was first treated by Save a Child's Heart at just ten months old. He continued to be followed up with, attending the clinic for Palestinian families on an ongoing basis. Requiring subsequent treatment, Mahmad was admitted for cardiac catheterization in 2019 and in 2021, returned for another life-saving surgery. Now 17, Mahmad loves to play soccer. In his city, Jericho, he volunteers with the elderly population. He also helps an environmental group with urban cleanup. After graduating high school, Mahmad looks forward to attending university.
Lean MoreMeron is a 28-year-old woman from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She came to Save a Child's Heart first when she was a teenager and again in September of 2018 for a repair.
Meron was diagnosed with her heart condition with no symptoms many years ago. The kind of heart disease is a type of defect or malformation in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occurs before birth. When Meron returned to SACH she was an adult who was studying medicine in Ethiopia. She functioned as a huge support to the younger children from Ethiopia and other countries as she has been through the experience herself. Volunteers got extremely close with her as well. Now a doctor who is married and has a child of her own on the way, we are grateful to have stayed connected to her and her care, and are impressed with the amazing work she is doing as a doctor in Ethiopia.
Lean MoreWith both of his parents passing when he was only six, Yared lived on the streets scrounging for food and basic existence in Ethiopia.
When doctors discovered he had Rheumatic Heart Disease, he was referred to Save a Child’s Heart by Dr. Etsegenet, a former SACH trainee in cardiology, and arrived in Israel in 1999. He was treated by the founder of Save a Child’s Heart, the late Dr. Ami Cohen. Following his return to Ethiopia, Yared finished his schooling and pursued a career in the field of education. He founded The School of St Yared in 2009. The school now provides classes, educational materials and daily meals to 200 kindergarten and primary-aged children who live in poverty, each year.
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Jarusha from St. Vincent came to Israel at two years old in need of a congenital heart defect repair. She was one of the last patients that Dr. Ami Cohen treated before his tragic passing.
Jerusha's journey was the first of many that would be made possible by the support of Save a Child's Heart's affiliate office in Canada. Her story inspired the late Eph Diamond, a Canadian philanthropist, to fund the start of one child’s journey to a healthy life. And after that request was filled, its impact was multiplied many times over once he established the Canadian office for Save a Child’s Heart.
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Worldwide, 1 in 100 will be born with a congenital heart defect. For those born in countries with limited or no pediatric heart care facilities or experts, a heart defect can be a death sentence. To Save a Child’s Heart, this is unacceptable.
We bring these children to Israel for heart surgery, giving them a chance at a healthy life. Over half the children we treat are from the Palestinian Authority and Gaza. Doctors from Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel conduct the surgeries, volunteering their time.
After treatment, children spend time at the Children’s Home of Israel where they heal and recover alongside other children, families, and volunteers from around the world. Here, they can run and play as they build strength for the return home.
After recovering, children return to their families in the cities and villages they came from. Children who once struggled to play and breathe can now run free and grow up to pursue their dreams. They will always be part of the Save a Child’s Heart community.
Saving lives for 25 years. Since the first children treated from Ethiopia in 1995 to the most recent children treated from Kosovo in 2021, we haven't stopped.
It takes courage – heartfelt courage – to believe, to hope, to heal, and to give.
Be part of our mission of heartfelt courage today.
SACH is hope for us, the Ivorians, because it means that this organization can and will save children’s hearts and allow them to live a longer and better life.
Aaron’s Mother
Ivory Coast
We are working for one goal, for one hope, to save a life. Save a Child’s Heart is the future, Save a Child’s Heart is the bridge of peace. Save a Child’s Heart is the hope.
Dr. Ahmed Zarour
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
For the past year we have been coming to the hospital every few weeks, very worried about what will happen to Bemnet. And today we are told that there is hope and she will undergo a lifesaving catheterization this week. I am so happy and grateful".
– Bemnet's Father
ETHIOPIA
SACH has provided hope to children who would otherwise not have access to life saving cardiac care, and has given them the chance to learn to walk, run, and play with their peers. These are often experiences that we take for granted.
- Jessica Schneider
Volunteer
Together we can build a future where all children born with heart defects have a chance at a healthy life.
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Save a Child's Heart exists today because of the vision and passion of our founder, Dr. Ami Cohen. Our journey began in 1995 when Ami brought Ethiopian children in need of life-saving heart care to Israel.
Our dream expanded. Not only did we begin bringing life-saving heart care to children in need, becoming the world’s largest foundation for providing heart procedures to children from countries with little or no access to care, but we've trained medical professionals worldwide to raise the level of international pediatric cardiac care.
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We're not done. Our dream continues with the opening of the Sylvan Adams Children’s Hospital and the Ida Cabakoff International Cardiac Care Center for Save a Child's Heart in Israel this year.
Covers the cost of a full medical mission conducted by the SACH team. On missions, we’re able to screen and treat numerous children directly in their home country.
Covers the cost for two-years of training for a physician who can then return to treat children in their own country, where access to care is often limited. This raises the level of pediatric cardiac care worldwide.
Covers the cost of sponsoring a child’s life-saving heart treatment. This includes all costs associated with surgery, hospitalization, medical needs, travel, administration, and room & board.
Covers the cost of accomodations in Israel for one child and their parent during their 12 week treatment and recovery in Israel
SAVING CHILDREN'S LIVES.
ONE HEART AT A TIME.
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