Little Melek Running with a New Heart

The health struggle of little Melek, who held on to life with Turkey's smallest artificial heart, was as follows step by step:

3-YEAR-OLD ARTIFICIAL HEART: Melek Özcan, who had congenital heart muscle deterioration and failure, was brought to Izmir from Diyarbakır, where her family lived, two years ago. During her examination at Dokuz Eylül University Hospital, it was determined that little Melek needed a heart transplant. It was decided to implant an artificial heart until a suitable heart was found. Melek was implanted with the smallest artificial heart in Turkey, a 10 cc artificial heart, with an operation performed by Prof. Dr Öztekin Oto.

STEPPED ON THE GRASS FOR THE FIRST TIME Melek, who miraculously continued her life in the hospital until last month, held on to life with the transplantation of the donated heart of a 6-year-old child who died of brain death in Adana. Melek, who held hands with her father Muhsin Özcan, who never left her head for a moment, and went out to the hospital garden, became the centre of attention of everyone.

WE WILL ENJOY LIFE Father Özcan said, "From now on, we will enjoy life. We will start life from scratch. I am looking for a job to provide a better life for him, I am waiting. He needs to be well cared for, our financial situation is not good."

PROUD Prof. Dr. Mehmet Refik Mas, Chief Physician of the hospital, said, "Melek became the baby who lived with the most artificial heart in Europe. She learnt to walk and speak here in our hospital. We have realised the firsts in transplants as a hospital. Such studies are not a dream for us, but it is proud. If the Ministry removes the barrier, we will carry out more such studies."

SPECIAL ROOM NEEDED Prof. Dr. Öztekin Oto said, "Melek needs to be protected from infection, she needs to live in a good, controlled environment. In children, the body accepts the organ better. After 15 days, we will go to her home in Diyarbakır and look at the conditions. He needs a special room. He should also be kept away from infected children."

Click here to go to the news source.