"I gave birth to my son Kuna D Mataruka on the 17th of October 2016. He is my second child. As a mother with a bit of experience, I immediately sensed that my son was not well because of his noisy breathing. I communicated my concerns to the health professionals who were available who quickly dismissed it, probably because the hospital was incapacitated. This was a provincial hospital....

On the same day I gave birth, I was discharged with my son, and nothing was done. I lived with my son struggling a lot. Most of the time, I would visit the local clinic, which would refer me to the general hospital for further assessment, but because the hospital had no resources, nothing would be done. I remember one time I was told my son had epilepsy. This was all all guesswork as no tests were done. Thank God there was no medication available ,he could have been given the wrong medication.But my son could not do anything as what other children would do. My heart would bleed seeing his age mates running and enjoying their childhood while he was unable to do anything. 

At the age of three, Kuna was now struggling a lot. One day, it was so bad he had passed out for many hours that I went with him to the Provincial Hospital. I was told of a new thing again. He had adenitis, and all was guesswork again. This time, I was referred to the biggest hospital in Harare, the capital city. One pediatrician suspected a heart condition. An echo diagram was to be done. We were then referred to another big hospital where they do Echo. When we arrived, we were then told they only take four children per week. So we will be put on the waiting list. Our day was in three months. We thank God, the same week Doctor Norman Musewe and wife come in, did the test. Kuna was found to be with a heart condition called tetralogy of fallout. This was on the second of May 2019. They arranged for Kuna to come for surgery at sick kids international hospital. We arrived in Canada on the 27th of November 2021. He had his surgery on the 4th of January 2022. We are really grateful for the help we had. This served his life!!

I really thank God for sending Dr. Musewe and his wife on time. If there is anything I I pray for, it is for one day to get people who would help children in Zimbabwe who have heart disease by building a cardiac clinic. For I know a lot of children are suffering. Yes, for us, the grace of God located us, but thousands of children in Zimbabwe are suffering. My heart bleeds!"

~ Kunaishe's Mom