Complicated Surgery Saved the Life of a Baby

Born with a Rare Heart Defect

There was more than one reason to celebrate the Brith of Ariel: The surgeon who saved the baby's life became also his Godfather

Ariel Razavi's aorta was only 1 mm thick at birth, a 10th of the normal size, preventing regular blood flow to the body. Prof. Alain Serraf, President of the Edmond J. Safra International Congenital Heart Center in Sheba's Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, was urgently called in to check the baby.

"Had the left heart chamber been small, I would have known that it was impossible to  restore the heart to full function; but in this case, I was challenged to make the child healthy again" explains Prof. Serraf. Substantial narrowing of the aorta in tandem with a small left heart chamber is rare, but such a defect with a normal sized left heart chamber is even rarer. "I operate this kind of congenital heart defects since 28 years already, and it's only the second time I meet a case like this. I guess that a child like Ariel is born only once in five years here in Israel."

After complicated, but successful surgery, the tender newborn was taken home by his parents. "When they brought little Ariel back to the hospital for a follow-up visit, they told me that they were planning his Brith, which had been put on hold due to his medical condition – and I blessed them" said Prof. Serraf. "Then the father asked me to become the child's Godfather. I was deeply touched."

"When we found out that Ariel was born with a congenital heart defect, we turned for help to Rabbi Elimelech Firer, and he recommended Prof. Serraf" says the father. "For us he is like an angel that descended to earth. He is an incredible person. There is nothing in this world we can do to repay him for what he did for us. He saved our child's life, and having him as his Godfather brings it all to a wonderful closure." Prof. Serraf adds that he made aliyah from France in 2013, where the relationship with the patients and their families is strictly professional. "This is the best present ever I received from a family."

The Brith: Godfather Dr. Alain Serraf  with Ariel Zaravi's parents     

One year later: Ariel is a healthy little boy