FOR eight Jamaican children and their families, June 2026 will be remembered as the month hope became reality.

Between June 8 and 15, eight children suffering from complex heart conditions underwent lifesaving open-heart surgery at the Bustamante Hospital for Children through a collaborative cardiac surgery mission involving Chain of Hope UK, Gift of Life International, and local health-care teams.

For years, many of these children lived with severe limitations caused by congenital and acquired heart diseases. Simple childhood activities such as running, playing, and attending school regularly were often interrupted by fatigue, breathlessness, and frequent medical appointments. Their families carried the emotional burden of uncertainty while awaiting specialised treatment.