Abasse

ABASSE, OR “PAPI” AS HIS FAMILY CALLS HIM, IS A FRIENDLY 11-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM BISSAU, THE CAPITAL OF GUINEA-BISSAU.

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Abasse is one of four children, with two brothers and one sister. His father, Said Ubalde, works in an agriculture field and his mother, Cari Embaldo, is a housewife.

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At home, Abasse goes to a public school where he likes math and gym class. In 2020, when Abasse was just nine years old, his gym teacher in school noticed he couldn’t go too long in class without getting tired. Since then unfortunately, Abasse couldn’t participate in most gym classes because of his symptoms. In addition, Abasse had recurring stomach pain and overall weakness so his grandfather took him to be checked by a doctor.

Abasse was eventually diagnosed with a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

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PDA occurs when the opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart present in utero does not close after birth,  causing extra blood to be pumped from the aorta into the pulmonary arteries and the lungs. If left untreated, the resulting hole in the aorta can allow oxygen-poor blood to flow in the wrong direction, weakening the heart and causing heart failure and other complications.

Abasse traveled to Israel with his cousin, as his mom was sick and couldn’t join his journey. Abasse tells us he misses his family very much and he speaks to them everyday here but he is grateful for the opportunity and he knows he will be brave when he goes into the hospital for surgery.

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Save a Child’s Heart was especially excited to bring Abasse amongst many other children for life-saving cardiac care in Israel because Guinea-Bissau marked our 67th country reached! 

ON MARCH 13, 2023, ABASSE SUCCESSFULLY UNDERWENT A LIFE-SAVING CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION AT THE IDA CABAKOFF INTERNATIONAL PEDIATRIC CARDIAC CENTER FOR SAVE A CHILD'S HEART AT THE SYLVAN ADAMS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT WOLFSON MEDICAL CENTER IN ISRAEL.

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As Abasse was recovering at the Children’s Home, he slowly opened up and made some friends from around the world. Abasse’s main language is Portuguese and at first it was difficult because of the language barrier with kids from many different countries and no one spoke his language. Abasse quickly became friends with a twelve year old boy named Lukas from Ethiopia. Lukas speaks English and Amharic and not Portuguese but the two just connected over games, laugh and fun. They both say this friendship is something they will hold onto their entire lives. A scar on their skin and a lifesaving journey in Israel is something they can not share with anyone else in the world. 

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The SACH team is proud to have given Abasse a healthy heart and a second chance at life!