Pictured above: Ashley and her daughter, Liané
Since the start of her life, 8-month old, Liané Roux from Secunda, Mpumalanga has faced a number of serious health issues as a result of being born with 3 congenital heart defects.
Concerned that their daughter (who was 4 months old at the time) was showing signs of a fever, had difficulty breathing, and was tired all the time, dotting parents Ashley (26) and Quintin Roux (36), took her to their local hospital, where she was initially diagnosed with a Grade 5 Cardiac Systolic Murmur.
A week later, after seeing a heart specialist at Steve Biko hospital, the family learned that Liané’s condition was much greater anticipated, discovering that she was born with 3 congenital heart defects: VSD, DORV and TGA.
Liané’s condition in more detail:
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole in the heart, is a common heart defect that’s present at birth. The hole (defect) occurs in the wall (septum) that separates the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles) and allows blood to pass from the left to the right side of the heart. The oxygen-rich blood then gets pumped back to the lungs instead of out to the body, causing the heart to work harder. Source.
- Double-outlet right ventricle, occurs when two large blood vessels don’t connect to the heart normally. In infants born with this condition, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body (aorta) and the artery that directs blood from the heart to the lungs (pulmonary artery) connect partially or completely to the right lower heart chamber (ventricle). Sometimes these blood vessels are also reversed from their normal positions. Source.
- Transposition of the great arteries (TGA), is a serious, rare heart problem in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed (transposed). Source.
In urgent need of an expensive surgery
As a result of her condition, Liané is at high risk of getting respiratory infections and ultimately suffering heart failure.
After meeting with the Maboneng Heart and Lung Institute in Johannesburg, the only hospital willing to perform Liané’s surgery, the Roux family were distraught, realising that between R800 000 to R1 Million rand is needed to save their daughter’s life.
Proud parents Ashley and Quintin holding Liané
Reaching out to the public for support during this devastating time, the family has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to make up the astronomical cost of the surgery, as they don’t have medical aid.
Grateful for the supporters who have shared their appeal and made generous donations to the sum of R94 000, the Roux family are ‘counting the days’ until Liané can put her difficult first chapter behind her.
“Words cannot describe the level of fear and heartbreak we felt hearing the words ‘heart failure’, knowing we have a financial mountain to climb and a race against time, to save the life of our little angel. We couldn’t be more thankful for the community that has formed around us to help fix Liané’s heart” – says Quintin
An update 8th April 2022:
Liané is at home on oxygen after she landed in hospital again. We are raising against time as she needs the operation as soon as possible.
Support Liané by making a donation on BackaBuddy:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/liane-roux
Alternatively, make a donation via Snapscan:
https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/LianeRoux
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