In December 1994, Hannah, age 6, was brought to Memphis by her grandmother because the operation to correct her congenital heart defect was not possible in her own country of Ukraine. At the time, ICHF did not have a Ukraine country program. Dr. Novick performed both mitral and aortic valve replacements and repaired Hannah’s coarctation. Two months later, she returned home with a prediction that she would live a long and happy life.
Today in 2007, Hannah is married and the proud mother of a healthy baby girl. Hannah’s grandmother expressed her appreciation in a letter recently by saying, “May God bless your efforts and God bless your hands which bring life and joy to many people. Blessings to all your medical personnel and co-workers who help such people as us.” Today, ICHF medical teams perform surgeries in the Ukraine under its country program.
