A ten-year-old boy from Mahlabathini in Ulundi has been given a new lease on life after undergoing a life-saving heart operation at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central hospital recently.

Siyabonga Mthethwa, who sufferered from a serious congenital heart problem, was the beneficiary of a first-of-its-kind procedure conducted by surgeons at the Durban health facility.

According to his aunt Nokuphila Mthethwa, Siyabonga could not play actively with his peers or participate in strenuous physical activity as a result of the heart condition.

“He would go out and play for about 10 minutes or so and come back complaining about chest pains.

“We could also feel his heart through his ribs, to indicate that it was not pumping normally. He would catch flu easily and lose weight quickly.

“This was until we sent him to Nkonjeni Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a problem in his heart, and referred to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital,” said Nokuphila.

KZN Health HoD Dr Sandile Tshabalala commended the team of surgeons for pulling off a ‘miraculous’ operation with the help of the Extra-Corporeal Membranous Oxygenation (ECMO) machine.

“The report we have received from one of the cardiac surgeons involved, Dr Sanvir Maharaj, indicates that this miracle patient presented with a large hole in his heart, and also had abnormal heart valves.

“As a result of this, his growth and development were adversely affected. Under normal circumstances, this medical condition is surgically corrected when children between the ages of 3 and 5 years.

“However, despite the late presentation to our facility, the patient was still assessed and deemed suitable for surgery,” said Dr Tshabalala.

Following the operation last month, Siyabonga is said to be recovering well and in good spirits.

“By God’s will, all went well and he has been granted a second chance at life.

“He is jovial and looking forward to playing with his friends. We hope he will be able to play like any normal child now,” said Nokuphila.