We have numerous systems set up to assist children with heart malfunctions. In addition to having children referred to us by the doctors from the local orphanage in Nanjing, we can also assist families who cannot afford examinations or operations for their child.
This is achieved by the families applying via The Amity Foundation, the Jiangsu Provincial Hospital, Nanjing Children's Hospital, No.454 Military Hospital or the Chengdu Cardiovascular Hospital in Sichuan. These hospitals are assisting us with the assessment of the children's needs. Hopeful Hearts will then decide on their eligibility, seeking advice from Amity and the hospital with regards to the funding amount. For orphans, Hopeful Hearts covers all costs for surgery, hospitalization and caretaking. Through their work, Amity also comes across children with heart conditions from other orphanages. If possible, Hopeful Hearts will help these children as well.
Medically, we are mainly advised by doctors from our cooperating hospitals, they usually perform the initial examinations on the children and propose a schedule of procedures. Nanjing Children's Hospital has seen a lot of success using MICS (minimal invasive cardiac surgery) which makes treatment safer and recovery much quicker for patients.
While in hospital, Hopeful Hearts volunteers will visit the children and monitor their progress. In the case of orphans, when fully recovered, orphans first return to their Social Welfare Institute where they receive after-care. Hopeful Hearts then tries to promote adoption or fostering of the child.
