Returning to Israel, A Mother's Hope

Valkis first came to Israel from Zanzibar after an Israeli medical mission visited her island and discovered she had a heart defect. She was six years old when she received a life-saving surgery sponsored by the organization Save a Child’s Heart.

Years later, after Valkis married and became a mother, her daughter Fatima began experiencing familiar symptoms.

“My first child had the same problem as me,” Valkis said. “So, we came back to Israel.”

It was another successful, life-changing surgery for Valkis’s family. But during a follow-up medical visit, a frightening discovery was made. Dr. Alona Raucher Sternfeld, Director of Pediatric Cardiology, recalls:

“They came in—it was a big celebration to see all of our patients from past years. I did an echocardiogram on Fatima, and then, just as an afterthought, I decided to do one on her very healthy-looking brother. And when we scanned him, we saw that he had the same malformation as his mother and sister.”

Valkis was devastated.

“I was very sad. I wondered if we would get the chance again, because in our country, many children have this problem.”

For Valkis and her daughter Fatima, Save a Child’s Heart was a lifesaver. Now, thanks to a partnership with CBN Israel, Valkis’s young son Faheem is also receiving the critical treatment he needs.

Jennifer Lang of Save a Child’s Heart emphasized the impact of this partnership:

“CBN has enabled us to save more lives every day and continue our life-saving work of providing cardiac treatment to children with both congenital and acquired heart disease. These treatments are not available in places like Zanzibar, where there is only one pediatric cardiologist—whom we trained—on the entire island. You’re literally saving a child’s heart and their life.”

Thanks to CBN Israel, three children from Valkis’s family—including Faheem—have received life-saving care. The organization has also provided state-of-the-art equipment to the pediatric ICU and sponsored the hospital’s Infant Nutrition Room. These contributions offer more than just medical treatment—they bring hope.

Valkis is overjoyed: “I’m very happy. Thank you to those who helped us… for saving my family.”