Welcome to the Blog!
Hi, I am Somaneh Bouba. I come from Mali and Senegal. I was a high-flying engineer and social entrepreneur working on my African Dream when I had to stay in the US with my wife (a born and bred Bostonian) and sons to receive life-saving heart treatment.
I live with an advanced heart disease caused by a congenital heart defect. I lived with the risk of sudden cardiac arrest without being aware for a long time. Despite years of therapies, multiple events, milestones, and locations. In 2017, I underwent open-heart surgery to implant an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) pump inside my heart. The LVAD pump helped my heart function while I waited for a heart transplant.
After years of waiting, I received a heart transplant in October 2022. The procedure was successful, and my recovery has been excellent so far.
Here, I share an unfiltered account of my lived experience with my illness and the support system that helps me live a healthy quality of life, be successful, and even aspire to self-actualization. I also write about how I still have faith in life, hope for tomorrow, and dreams for the future.
I blog as a patient because I firmly believe it is critical that the patient’s point of view is made more relevant and informs the improvement of therapies and healthcare systems.
