Six-year-old Leah Kamila made history by becoming the first patient to undergo open-heart surgery at the new High-Complexity Pediatric Hospital of Ciudad de la Salud. Fifteen days after her surgery, she arrived at the Palace of the Herons, where she was received by President José Raúl Mulino, who celebrated her rapid recovery. The surgery corrected an atrial septal defect, a hole between the atria that affects normal blood flow. “The surgery was to place a patch and completely close the hole,” explained pediatric cardiologist Aida González. The procedure was performed by a specialized team from the CSS and allowed Leah to recover in 12 days, without the need to travel abroad. She was also invited to cut the ribbon at the inauguration of the next hospital in Bugaba. The First Lady, Maricel de Mulino, spoke with the little girl and reaffirmed her support. The meeting closed with a lunch at the Palace, celebrating Leah's recovery and the advancement of pediatric medicine in Panama. The girl is now active, stable, and has a good prognosis. Her family did not hide their emotion: “Seeing her laugh again is immense happiness,” said her mother, Yeniffer Guerra. Her father, Juan Quintero, added that she can now lead a normal life. Even the medical discharge took them by surprise. “The doctor told us: ‘You can go home’,” the mother recounted. This weekend, they will return to their home in Bugaba, Chiriquí, to continue their recovery. During the meeting, Mulino recalled a personal experience with his daughters and promised to support Leah with whatever she needs, from medications to medical appointments.
