The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

What is a heart? In scientific terms, it is the organ responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. And what would be the answer for someone, who doesn’t want the typical Wikipedia definition? To quote an international proverb, “A heart at peace gives life to the body.” Then by association, we can say that cardiothoracic surgeons literally help save lives on a daily basis. And which Egyptian is most famous in this area of expertise than the one and only, Sir Magdi Habib Yacoub. Today’s article is mainly dedicated to commemorating his most recent triumph that was posted on the Chain of Hope’s Facebook page, just a few days ago. 

What is Chain of Hope? According to their page, Chain of Hope was established in 1995, under the initiative of Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, to provide children suffering from life-threatening heart disease with the corrective surgery and treatment to which they would not normally have access. It is defined as an international children’s charity, registered in the UK, that links people and companies together to help children with heart disease in developing and war-torn countries to get the care that they desperately need. The description concludes with a heartwarming phrase and an invitation to the world, “With your help, we can save even more children’s lives.”

Our story is about a 4-year-old boy, called Adrian, who is the first child from Bolivia to be sponsored by Chain of Hope. The picture in the post was taken 48 hours after Adrian had undergone a Ross procedure, a cardiac surgery operation where a diseased aortic valve is replaced with the person’s own pulmonary valve. Unfortunately, this specific operation is not available in many cardiac centres around the world.  But, thanks to the dedicated and committed team at the Aswan Heart Center in Egypt under the guidance of the legendary founder, the boy and his family were able to take a photo with Sir Magdi Yacoub and Nurse Sandy Ezzat as they thanked them in person.

We could go on about Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation’s Aswan Heart Center, but the moving advertisements this Ramadan have certainly proved the impact that it has created for so many lives and how it serves a vital role on a national and international level.

Sir Magdi, words cannot begin to describe what you mean to our country. You are a genuine source of pride that will forever be remembered for decades and decades to come.