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COOPERATIVE SOCIAL EMERGENCY TRANSPORT POBIC

New Hope for Pearl: A Ugandan Girl’s Journey Thanks to the Open Heart Pobic Project​

The Open Heart Pobic project continues to give a voice and a future to children with serious heart conditions in the world's most vulnerable contexts. This is the story of Nyamata Shamairah Pearl, a Ugandan girl just over two years old, whose life was profoundly marked—and saved—by surgery made possible by international solidarity.

From the Ugandan countryside to Italy: the beginning of the journey

Pearl was born on May 23, 2023, in the Kabarole District of western Uganda. Her parents, Davis and Neelam, live in a rural village in the Bunyangabu District, where the father is involved in farming and small trade, while the mother looks after Pearl full-time.


The baby's first months of life seemed normal. But around eight months old, her parents began to notice worrying signs: shortness of breath after playing, an irregular heartbeat, and episodes of weakness.

 

Despite reassuring initial consultations at local centers, it was only in early 2025 that Pearl was referred to the Uganda Heart Institute, where an echocardiogram led to the definitive diagnosis: Tricuspid Atresia type 2C, a rare and complex congenital heart defect that could not be treated locally.

 

Pobic's intervention

In a similar context, the project Open Heart POBIC was able to intervene promptly. Thanks to the report from the local network and the recommendation of the Ugandan Ministry of Health, the child was taken in charge by Pobic for the organization of her transfer to Italy, at the Gaslini Pediatric Hospital in Genoa.

 

In collaboration with the association Flying Angels and with the support of local and institutional partners, the entire care pathway has been arranged: from the medical visa to flights, from reception to hospital admission.

 

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The operation and critical moments

The first surgery on Pearl was performed on September 3, 2025. The post-operative period was complex: the child experienced critical moments in intensive care, including cardiac arrest and a new phase of resuscitation.
The Gaslini medical teams managed the situation with utmost attention, communicating constantly with the Pobic staff. Between CT scans, specialist exams, and invasive procedures like catheterization, the course was followed with extreme care.

Pearl's mother, Neelam, stayed by her side throughout her hospitalization, receiving logistical and psychological support thanks to the network activated by Pobic in the region.

 

The first signs of recovery

After intense weeks, in mid-October, the most anticipated news arrived: Pearl has been stubborn and has started responding positively to therapies. The images and videos shared by the medical staff show a child who is worn out but alert, and finally able to hold her mother's hand again.

The healthcare staff confirmed that the clinical picture, while remaining delicate, is improving. The family's return tickets were also modified to accommodate the new post-operative timeline.

An example of international cooperation is the International Space Station (ISS).

Pearl's story tells us much more than a single medical case. It's an example of how an international network of solidarity can work:

  • from the early detection of the need,

  • all the mobilization of medical, logistical, and institutional resources,

  • until concrete human support for the families involved.

Thanks to Open Heart Pobic Project, today Pearl has a new chance at life. Her story is also an invitation to continue to support this commitment, so that more children can receive the care they deserve, regardless of where they are born.

How to contribute: The Open Heart Pobic project is supported exclusively by donations, partner organizations, and fundraising initiatives. A remote adoption program for Pearl is also currently being activated, through which it will be possible to support her in her recovery and cardiologic follow-up in the coming months.

THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT

WE SAVE THE LIVES OF DOZENS OF CHILDREN EVERY YEAR. HELP US DO EVEN MORE.

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  • Marketer and professor of communication and marketing, sensitive to humanitarian and relief issues. I only write about what truly interests me, and POBIC's mission is of crucial importance.

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