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Skip page contentAn Israeli Story: A 6-Year-Old Ethiopian Boy Arrives in Israel and Receives the Gift of a Healthy Heart
Aminehon Desa Chakul, a 6-year-old boy from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was diagnosed just last year with a congenital heart defect causing a narrowing of his main artery. Doctors in Addis Ababa recommended a complex open-heart surgery to correct the condition, but Aminehon's family, who were planning to immigrate to Israel to reunite with relatives living in Lod, chose to wait and seek treatment in Israel
Date: 07.01.25 | Update: 20.01.25
Upon their arrival in Israel, the family was referred to a community cardiologist, who subsequently directed them to Kaplan Medical Center for the care of Dr. Yael Garti, Head of the Pediatric Cardiology Unit. Dr. Garti recommended a catheterization procedure at the Cardiology Institute at Schneider Children's Medical Center, part of the Clalit Health Services Group, under the leadership of Prof. Einat Birk.
Following Dr. Garti's recommendation, the family arrived at Schneider Children's. Just two weeks after they arrived in Israel, Aminehon underwent a catheterization procedure to correct the defect. After only two days of recovery, he was discharged home in excellent condition.
Aminehon's father expressed his gratitude, saying:
"I want to thank the State of Israel and Schneider Children's Medical Center for the swift and excellent care my son received."
According to Dr. Elchanan Bruckheimer, Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at Schneider Children's:
"The family's immigration to Israel enabled them to access advanced medical care here. Today, instead of performing complex and difficult surgeries to correct such defects, we use catheterization, a relatively simple and standard procedure that requires minimal recovery time.
This beautiful human story transcends the medical aspect - it is the story of a child who recently arrived in Israel and, in an incredibly short time, received outstanding medical care with no unnecessary delays or complications. It reminds us of the core values of the State of Israel: embracing and gathering the Jewish people, saving lives, and ensuring the well-being of every child. We are honored to have been part of Aminehon's journey and wish him and his family a healthy and fulfilling life in Israel.