An Iranian infant who was delayed in entering the U.S. due to the recent travel ban has successfully undergone heart surgery to fix a genetic defect, hospital officials stated.
Fatehmeh Reshad, a 4-month-old infant from Iran, arrived in the U.S. to undergo tests and remedy earlier this month to repair a genetic heart defect, according to officials at Oregon Well being & Science University (OHSU). The infant was born with a situation where two primary arteries are reversed.
Fatemeh had been scheduled to arrive for therapy and heart surgery on Feb. five due to the fact there was no hospital in Iran that supplied the complex operation that would save her life. The infant and her parents had been functioning with lawyers and other officials when President Trump’s executive order was implemented, which temporarily banned most travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations.
The household arrived on Feb. 7 just after operating with the Department of Homeland Security, according to the family’s attorney Jennifer Morrissey. And although the delay was only two days, her medical condition made the delay significant, Morrissey mentioned.
Fatehmeh underwent surgery on Friday and is presently recovering, said Dr. Laurie Armsby, associate professor of pediatrics and interim head of the division of pediatric cardiology at OSHU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
“She’s in the ICU and recovering as we would hope she would,” Armsby mentioned at a news conference on Monday. “Her heart function looks attractive, so, we’re really pleased with how she’s recovering.”
Armsby said the household did not want details of the surgery or Fatemeh’s present condition released to the public.
Sam Taghizadeh, Fatemeh’s uncle, mentioned it felt like “a miracle” to get Fatemeh and her parents in the U.S. for surgery.
“In the beginning, I did not have any hope about my loved ones coming here,” Taghizadeh stated through Monday’s news conference. “I mentioned, ‘Who is going to listen to me?’ … I was shocked how the individuals in the U.S. helped.”
Morrissey stated Fatemeh’s loved ones was informed of the cancellation of Jan. 27, when the travel ban was announced.
“The delay was just a handful of days, but definitely each day was important given her healthcare situation,” Morrissey stated at Monday’s news conference.
Taghizadeh, who lives in Oregon, stated so several people today reached out to assistance that Fatemeh’s parents could not think the strangers weren’t friends of Taghizadeh.
“They asked me, ‘Why these men and women [helping us]?” Taghizadeh stated. “They could not think it.”
Taghizadeh also thanked the several men and women — like lawyers, lawmakers and medical doctors — who helped to get Fatemeh in the nation for healthcare remedy.
“English is a second language for me and I could not find the words to say thank you,” he mentioned.
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