Dr Wilhelm Lichteberg Baby Kendreya and parents

Foundations and medical team unite for urgent heart operation

Baby Kendreya Pillay seemed like any newborn – until her tiny chest began rising and falling rapidly, and she quickly grew tired.

Born in October 2024 to Paroosha Naidoo and Kevin Pillay in Chatsworth, Durban, Kendreya’s dad remembers those early days vividly: “Her stomach would sink with every breath, like her little body was working overtime just to breathe.”

As the weeks passed, Kendreya’s breathing worsened. Kevin juggled night shifts, driving Paroosha and Kendreya between hospital appointments and tests. He would often sleep in the car while mother and baby waited to see the doctors and get the necessary medical tests done.

Then came the devastating diagnosis – a large hole in the heart was affecting Baby Kendreya’s blood flow. “Her heart couldn’t pump properly, causing fluid to build up in her lungs. That’s why her tummy caved in when she tried to breathe,” Kevin explains.

Surgery was initially scheduled for March 2025, when Kendreya would be six months old, but this was not to be, and it was unclear when a new date for surgery could be arranged in the public sector. The dedicated team of doctors at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital did everything they could to help, but the resources at government hospitals are simply not able to keep up with the desperate need for such specialised procedures.

Parents Paroosha Naidoo and Kevin Pillay with Baby Kendreya

“It broke our hearts as the doctors had warned us that after eight or nine months, surgery becomes much riskier. Time was running out,” Kevin says.

Cardiothoracic surgeon and founder of the Young Hearts Africa Foundation, Dr Wilhelm Lichtenberg, has made it his life’s purpose to reach children with life-threatening heart defects like Kendreya’s before it is too late. Since its inception in 2023, the foundation has helped 30 children.

Faced with despair, Paroosha searched tirelessly for help for their daughter until she found Dr Lichtenberg and the Young Hearts Africa Foundation. “At first, it felt too good to be true, and we were almost worried it might be a scam. But Dr Lichtenberg responded, asking only for medical records, never money. It was a light in a dark time.”

Meanwhile, Kendreya’s condition worsened – she lost her appetite and started passing blood, prompting urgent scans.

“Baby Kendreya had been diagnosed with Atrioventricular Septal Defect [AVSD], which is a congenital heart defect. This means that she had a large hole in the heart's centre that affected the walls between the upper chambers and lower chambers of her heart. Because the valves that control blood flow between these chambers are malformed or shared, it allows oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix inside the heart,” Dr Lichtenberg explains.

“Babies with AVSD often experience rapid breathing, difficulty feeding, excessive sweating, and poor weight gain. If left untreated, the extra blood flow can damage the lungs, leading to heart failure. The timing of surgery is critical. The risks increase after six months because the lungs can suffer irreversible damage from the extra blood flow. Early repair gives babies the best chance to grow and thrive,” he adds.

With no options open to them in KwaZulu-Natal and private care out of reach, Kendreya’s future looked bleak – until the Young Hearts Africa Foundation stepped in. Dr Lichtenberg made it his mission to secure the surgery she needed in Cape Town.

“When the Young Hearts Africa Foundation reached out about Baby Kendreya’s urgent case, the Netcare Foundation and Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital immediately prioritised her AVSD repair. There’s a huge need for specialised paediatric heart surgeries — they are complex, resource-heavy, and absolutely essential for giving these children a fighting chance,” comments Mande Toubkin, Netcare’s general manager of trauma, transplant, and corporate social investment.

Dr Lichtenberg says having the operation before Kendreya’s condition worsened made all the difference. “Thanks to the support of the Netcare Foundation, the selfless dedication and cooperation of renowned heart surgeon Dr Susan Vosloo, anaesthetist Dr Marie Bosman, Pathcare Pathologists, Morton & Partners Radiologists, Medtronic, and Cossni Medical, Baby Kendreya finally has a real chance at a healthier future. This surgery has changed the course of her life and given her the opportunity to thrive,” he says.

When Young Hearts Africa reached out to them, the South African charity, Wings and Wishes graciously joined the effort by providing the necessary airline flights for Baby Kendreya and her parents. Their work is dedicated to removing transport barriers, enabling disadvantaged children nationwide to reach the medical facilities for the treatment they urgently need.

Now back home in Durban, Kendreya’s family is filled with gratitude for the care and support that saved their daughter’s life. Paroosha and Kevin recall their darkest days of fear and uncertainty – and the hope that blossomed when they connected with Dr Lichtenberg and the dedicated team at Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital.

“Dr Lichtenberg and Dr Vosloo are our heroes, our angels — our only option, and we can’t express our appreciation to the Netcare Foundation, the Young Hearts Africa Foundation and everyone involved,” the grateful parents say, reflecting on the tireless efforts that made the surgery possible and eased their journey.

The family says the operation itself was a rollercoaster of emotions — the waiting, the reassurance from the medical team, and finally, seeing Kendreya recover with strength and spirit. “She has healed so quickly and been so active since the operation. Kendreya is fascinated by the world around her,” Paroosha shares.

The family describes the ICU nurses’ gentle care, clear communication, and the doctors' skill and kindness as vital to their healing process. Watching their baby smile, clap, and slowly regain her energy brought overwhelming joy and relief.

“As parents, you experience every emotion imaginable, but holding her for the first time after surgery, feeding her, and seeing her fight back made it all worthwhile,” concludes Paroosha.