Our names are Hismath and Muaz, and our son Keyaan was born on 8 July 2008, a perfect, beautiful baby boy. But just days later, something wasn’t right. A nurse noticed his lips, nails, and even his tiny body turning blue.

It was then that we learned Keyaan had Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) – a type of critical congenital heart defect (CHD). We had never heard of CHD before. We didn’t know what it meant, and we were completely unprepared for what was coming.

On day five, we were told our son needed emergency surgery to survive. With the help of family and friends, we managed to fly to Cochin, India, where surgeons performed life-saving shunt surgery and days of intensive treatment followed.

We brought Keyaan home to the Maldives on day 47. After his first surgery and returning home, Keyaan was able to enjoy a brief but beautiful time surrounded by love and comfort. He recovered well and brought light and joy to everyone around him. But this moment of peace didn’t last.

The medical system and lack of facilities in the Maldives failed him. Sadly, Keyaan’s health took a sudden turn, and he once again needed timely and critical care – care that was not available here at that time. On day 78, we rushed him to India again on an emergency flight.

This time, we couldn’t save him. Keyaan lost his fight against CHD.

Out of our heartbreak, we made a promise: no parent should ever have to face this alone. No child should lose their life because of delayed diagnosis, lack of awareness, or limited access to care. That promise became Tiny Hearts of Maldives, officially registered on 8 July 2009 – on Keyaan’s first birthday.

Today, Tiny Hearts of Maldives fights for every tiny heart – from newborns with congenital heart defects (CHDs) to children and families affected by cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). For over 15 years, we’ve been working tirelessly to save and improve lives across the country.

But there’s still so much more to do. Every year, heart disease continues to be a leading threat to Maldivian families – from our youngest children to our ageing parents.

We believe every child and every family deserves a fighting chance.

No parent should have to watch their child struggle for breath without knowing why. No family should have to choose between financial ruin and their loved one’s life.

This is not just our story. This is the story of so many Maldivian families. And it’s why we need change – now.

Help us give every tiny heart in the Maldives the care it deserves. Stand with us. Share our story. Be part of the change.

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Heart disease is the world’s number one killer. 

More deadly than cancer, it claims around 20 million lives a year and is the reason that 1 in 5 of us will die early.

It doesn’t have to be this way. 

Medication to reduce high blood pressure - a major risk factor for heart disease - saves lives by preventing heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes. 

But 4 in 5 people are not getting the treatment they need to control their blood pressure. 

It’s time for urgent action.      

That’s why we’re calling on Governments to act now and commit to helping some 500 million more people get the treatment they need by 2030. 

There’s no time to lose. In the 30 seconds it may have taken you to read this, 20 more lives have been lost. It could be you or someone you love next.

SIGN our petition to call for better treatment TODAY and stop needless deaths.

The World Heart Federation