Baby from Togo, Africa has farewell party after successful VSD surgery at Norton Children’s Hospital

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- Norton Children’s Hospital is having a farewell party for a special baby from Togo, Africa that received heart surgery after battling a ventricular septal defect.

Audrey Koffi, who celebrated her first birthday on Tuesday, underwent treatment at Norton Children’s Hospital for a hole in her heart.

She traveled over 5,700 miles from home because the care she needed was not available in her country, which brought her to the bluegrass state and Bowling Green.

Her mother, Catherine Lamboru, said after the surgery, she noticed a significant change in her daughter’s energy and happiness. She said she is grateful for the helping hands that changed her daughter’s life. 

“Now I’m just in joy. Now I just thank everyone that helped with the surgery, everyone that helped get me here. Everyone who helped me get my papers and my visas because that was very difficult and almost didn’t happen. I just am so thankful to everyone,” said Lamboru.

Dr. Smitha Bullock with Norton Children’s Hospital said she received a referral case for Koffi and saw fit for a procedure.

“She had a big hole in her heart that was causing her to probably be delayed in her growth and her weight gain. If it hadn’t been corrected, it would’ve been life threatening at some point. So, we’re just happy to have made such an impact on her life and we knew that doing the surgery would be the key to that,” said Dr. Smitha Bullock, a pediatric cardiologist with Norton Children’s Hospital.

With the help of Healing the Children Kentucky in partnership with Norton Children’s Hospital, Koffi’s procedure was free of expenses.

According to the CDC, 42 babies out of every 10,000 are born with VSD. There are 4 types of VSD that can be present at birth or appear after. 

Symptoms of VSD include shortness of breath, fast or heavy breathing, sweating, feeling tired and inability to gain weight.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, you are urged to get medical attention.