Ethan, the 20-month-old African baby whose life was saved by the Maternal and Child Hospital after undergoing heart surgery

Benin is a small country located in the western part of Africa, between Togo and Nigeria, but today it is a little closer to Malaga, ... after the Maternal and Child Hospital, which is part of the Regional University Hospital, saved the life of little Ethan, a 20-month-old baby who underwent heart surgery in the capital. After experiencing moments of uncertainty in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, according to a note sent by the Terra des Hommes Foundation, he has returned to Cotonou, the capital of the African nation, his home.

The child, according to the note, "has finally returned to his native country" early in the morning from Malaga, the city where he landed "with a sick heart that today, thanks to the excellence of the Cardiology team, beats with renewed strength." The success of the intervention, says Terra des Hommes, "means much more than a medical milestone: it represents the opportunity for a child not yet two years old to grow, play, and live with the same opportunities as any other child."

Support

During his stay in Spain, the child received support from Marina, his foster mother, who "played an outstanding role despite it being her first experience in the 'Journey towards Life' program," a solidarity chain sustained by the commitment of volunteers and foster families. The work of the foundation is made possible thanks to institutions and sponsoring companies such as Reale Insurances, Dental Company, the Province of Cordoba, Obra Social La Caixa, the Provincial Council and the City Council of A Coruña. "Thanks to this combination of institutional and private efforts, stories like Ethan's cease to be a dream to become a reality of life and hope that will always keep a piece of this little boy's laughter in Malaga," the foundation explains.

Marina, the foster mother, was "unconditionally supported by her parents, who devotedly played the role of foster grandparents." This woman was responsible for providing "the stability and affection necessary for the child's recovery," who has already left for home, although the moment of departure, although expected as the final goal of the program, "has left a deep emotional imprint on a family that has been dedicated with exemplary dedication."

The return to Cotonou was coordinated by David Quintana, who took the child to the arms of his biological parents

The return to the capital of Benin was coordinated by David Quintana, an experienced collaborator who ensured that the journey was safe and calm until placing the child in the hands of his biological parents. "This accompaniment work, endorsed by years of experience and the empathy of the professionals from Aviation Without Borders (ASF), is the last link in a complex logistics chain where the human factor is always the priority," the foundation states.