A Murmur We Couldn’t Ignore
Sanaah Sharvina Chotai was born on 14 October 2022 at Parklands Hospital in Durban — a beautiful, loud, alert baby girl who instantly filled our hearts. In those first moments, her paediatrician, Dr Tahir, mentioned hearing a murmur but reassured us it would likely resolve on its own.
At her weekly follow-up, however, the murmur remained significant. We were referred to Dr Himal Dama at the eThekwini Hospital and Heart Centre. After examining Sanaah, he gently shared the diagnosis that changed our lives: Tetralogy of Fallot — four structural defects of the heart. She would need open-heart surgery, and soon.
The drive home that day was filled with silence and tears. How do you process that your tiny baby will undergo heart surgery? The words felt too heavy to hold. But as the days passed, we saw strength in our little girl. We realised that if she was willing to fight, we would fight alongside her.
For months, Sanaah remained stable under careful monitoring. We hoped surgery could be delayed. But in May 2023, during a routine check-up, Dr Dama explained that her condition was worsening. Surgery was no longer optional — it was urgent.
When fear threatens to overwhelm you, faith becomes the steady rhythm that carries you through.
Three and a Half Hours of Prayer and Courage
Sanaah’s surgery was scheduled for 22 May 2023 at the eThekwini Hospital and Heart Centre, performed by Dr Darshan Reddy with Dr Himal Dama alongside him in theatre. Meeting the team — the surgeons, anaesthetists, and nurses — brought reassurance during one of the most terrifying weeks of our lives.
The 3.5-hour wait felt endless. We prayed, we held hands, and we tried to steady our hearts. When Dr Dama emerged to tell us the surgery had been successful — though they needed extra time to correct a small residual hole — relief washed over us. Soon after, Sanaah was moved to the Paediatric Cardiac Care Unit. Seeing her surrounded by tubes and machines was overwhelming, yet we were grateful simply to be near her. She remained sedated for three days and faced a post-operative infection that required additional care. The dedicated one-on-one nurses became our anchors during visiting hours, offering comfort and reassurance.
Day by day, tubes were removed. Slowly, our smiley little girl returned. After nine days in PCCU, Sanaah was moved to the paediatric ward and soon discharged home — our answered prayer in our arms.
Sanaah will require another surgery in the future when her valve begins to leak. But today, we celebrate the present. At 17 months old, she has caught up on all her milestones. She is growing into a strong, resilient, joyful little girl — brave beyond her years.
We remain deeply grateful to Dr Himal Dama, Dr Darshan Reddy, the medical teams, our family and friends, and HeartKids SA for walking this journey with us. Right now, we simply celebrate a healthy heart — and the beauty that shines because of it.
Sharvina Chotai
