Iranian baby banned by Trump admitted to US for heart surgery

A newborn Iranian girl arrived in the US for life-saving treatment after obtaining a travel waiver from the government.

The Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon, admitted four-month-old Fatemeh Reshad on Tuesday for a heart condition called transposition of the great arteries (TGA), according to a Huffington Post report.

“We are here to take care of every child that we can,” said Dr Dana Braner, chief physician at Doernbecher.

“We are thrilled to take care of this child from Iran,” he added.

When the travel ban was in effect, US authorities had told Reshad’s family that they would have to apply for a US visa for Fatemah in 90 days.

US Senator Jeff Merkley, who represents Oregon, helped Reshad’s family obtain a waiver for travel. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and immigration lawyers also helped.

An attorney representing Reshad’s family said that travel to the US was necessary for Fatemah’s survival.

“In Iran there’s a 20-30 percent chance of success with surgery,” said Amber Murray. “Here there’s a 97 percent chance of success."

Luckily, doctors at Doernbecher have said that “Fatemeh looks well. Our tests this morning have confirmed her diagnosis and the urgent need for treatment”.

"Fatemeh was born with a very rare and complex form of congenital heart disease. It affects about two in ten thousand newborns," said Dr Laurie Armsby, a pediatric cardiologist at Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

“As we suspected, her heart condition has resulted in injury to her lungs, however, the studies today indicate that she has been presented to us in time to reverse this process,” Armsby said.

“We anticipate a very good result at surgery that will provide her a very active and full life,” she added.