Building a Legacy: Transforming CHD Care in Pakistan

Heart to Heart with Anna

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From a family vacation that turned tragic to the creation of Pakistan's first specialized children's heart hospital, Ana Tanveer Abdullah's journey illustrates how profound loss can spark transformative change.
When Ana's athletic, academically gifted brother Daniel collapsed unexpectedly at age 15, no one suspected a heart condition. Despite receiving a pacemaker after being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, Danial passed away at 16 while awaiting a heart transplant in India. This devastating loss became the catalyst for an extraordinary mission.
Together with her father and Farhan Ahmad (who also lost a child to congenital heart disease), Ana founded the Pakistan Children's Heart Foundation with an ambitious vision: to build the country's first specialized cardiac hospital for children. Through innovative fundraising campaigns inspired by Danial's athletic spirit and tireless advocacy, they've now achieved what once seemed impossible.
The Children's Heart Hospital opens in Lahore this April, eliminating the need for Pakistani families to seek expensive treatment abroad. Beyond the physical facility, their "Project by Danial" trains young cardiologists and surgeons specifically in pediatric cardiac care, ensuring sustainable healthcare improvements throughout the country.
Ana's story reminds us of the remarkable resilience of the human spirit. "We are trying to find peace in this world," she reflects. "He had already found his peace." Through their foundation's life-saving work, Danial's legacy touches countless families across Pakistan, transforming one family's grief into hope for an entire nation.
Join our community and discover how you can support organizations like the Pakistan Children's Heart Foundation that are changing the landscape of pediatric cardiac care worldwide.

Link to Global Cardiac Alliance: https://cardiac-alliance.org/

Link to the Heart to Heart with Anna episode featuring Farhan Ahmad: https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/398968-a-miracle-in-pakistan

Pakistan Children's Heart Foundation (PCHF): https://pchf.org.pk/

Project Danial: https://pchf.org.pk/cause/project-danial/

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Chapters

1. A Brother's Unexpected Diagnosis (00:00:00)

2. Introduction and Anne-Marie's Legacy (00:04:41)

3. Dr. Novick's Global Cardiac Alliance (00:09:55)

4. Ana's Brother Daniel and His Condition (00:14:57)

5. The Search for a Heart Transplant (00:24:56)

6. Creating Heart for Daniel Foundation (00:30:41)

7. Building Pakistan's First Children's Heart Hospital (00:35:15)