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In Uganda, We Help Prossy Get Life-Saving Heart Surgery

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: December 3, 2025

Last week, we announced the launch of the HeartValveSurgery.com Charitable Giving Program. Today, I am overjoyed to share that, thanks to the extraordinary support of our community, we just helped Prossy, a 15-year-old girl from Kitgum, Uganda, receive life-saving heart valve surgery at the Uganda Heart Institute in Mulago, Kampala!

Gift of Life Patient Success Story with Adam Pick

Prossy at Uganda Heart Institute

Prossy's Heart Valve Disease Struggle

Prossy lives in Kitgum, Uganda, with her mother, Aya Catherine, and father, Usam Gionyelo. She is the first born of three children — and the only girl. From a young age, Prossy loved school, helping her mother around the house, listening to music, and watching cartoons before bedtime. Prossy also has a big dream for her future: she wants to become a doctor.

But everything changed when Prossy turned seven. Her parents noticed Prossy was constantly sick — suffering from physical weakness, cough, flu, fever, and eventually difficulty breathing and eating. Worried, they took Prossy to Kitgum General Hospital, where early tests indicated a serious heart problem. Prossy was then referred to the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) for further evaluation. At UHI, doctors confirmed their worst fear: Prossy was suffering from rheumatic heart disease, involving her mitral valve, aortic valve, and pulmonary system. Her medical team explained that Prossy urgently needed surgery.

The Big Hurdle: Financial Burden

When Prossy's mother learned that her daughter needed complex valve surgery, she was heartbroken. The cost was far beyond what her family could afford. Thankfully, this is when we learned about Prossy.

Through a partnership between Gift of Life International and the HeartValveSurgery.com Charitable Giving Fund, Prossy was approved for full financial sponsorship. This meant her family no longer had to fear losing Prossy simply because they could not pay for her operation.

If you didn't know, Gift of Life is a wonderful non-profit organization that has helped more than 52,000 children in over 80 countries across 5 continents get treatment for heart disease. In 2024, Gift of Life organized the treatment of more than 5,000 children in just one year!

Prossy's Surgery & Recovery

On November 17, 2025, at the Uganda Heart Institute, Prossy underwent a major heart operation that included a mitral valve replacement, an aortic valve replacement and a tricuspid valve repair. The procedure was performed by Dr. Tom Mwambu, a leading heart valve surgeon at Uganda Heart Institute, and Dr. Pranava Sinha, the co-director of the Pediatric Heart Center at Minnesota Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital.

Dr. Tom Mwambu and Dr. Pranava Sinha Gift of Life

Dr. Tom Mwambu and Dr. Pranava Sinha (Prossy's Heart Surgeon)

As you might expect, this was an exceptionally complex, multi-valve procedure — especially in a young patient with rheumatic disease. Thanks to the outstanding cardiac team at UHI, the surgery was a success! Today, Prossy is recovering very well. Her strength is returning, her breathing has improved, and she is smiling again. Her parents proudly share that she's already dreaming about returning to school — and continuing her path toward becoming a doctor.

The Impact of Your Support

Prossy's healing was made possible by the HeartValveSurgery.com community, the HeartValveSurgery.com Charitable Giving Fund, Gift of Life International, and the incredible medical professionals at UHI. To her parents, Aya Catherine and Usam, this support meant hope, relief, and a second chance for their daughter. Your generosity — whether through donations, advocacy, or simple acts of kindness — helped save Prossy's life.

To every donor, supporter, and advocate who made this possible... Thank You!!! Your kindness and generosity changed Prossy's life.

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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