Written by Ani Michel (Martirosyan), Founder and Director of the Revival of Hearts Foundation.
Let me introduce you to Anna Sargsyan, or, as we affectionately call her within our foundation, Annushka. Annushka became the driving force behind the creation of the Revival of Hearts Foundation. Her story is intricately intertwined with my own. Both Annushka and I were born on April 2, and we are twins, though our siblings didn’t survive childbirth. Annushka and I both came into the world prematurely. And we both have a persistent spirit that drives us to go the distance.
All these “random” similarities became anything but random when I received a call from a friend of Annushka’s family, asking for help to secure her surgery. At that time, I was already active in charity work, both independently and with the “Hurry for Good” foundation, so I reached out to my colleagues there for assistance. The “Hurry for Good” team agreed to support the fundraising for her work with a hearing specialist to prepare her for surgery. But funding the operation and the hearing device itself would require additional support from other organizations. For me, Annushka’s case felt deeply personal.
It was then, in June 2023, that I felt a strong sense that I needed to open my own foundation. Annushka became the beacon that lit the path to founding the Revival of Hearts Foundation.
Annushka was born on April 2, 2022, at just 6 months gestation, weighing 900 grams. At the hospital, it was discovered that she was deaf, with profound hearing loss in both ears.
In late June 2023, doctors from the U.S. came to Armenia to perform surgeries for children, including Anna. The cochlear implant that she needed cost $14,865. The Armenian International Medical Fund raised $12,365. Her parents needed to provide the remaining $2,500. With the joint effort of many supporters, we managed to raise the needed funds.
On July 1, 2023, Annushka received her cochlear implant surgery at Erebuni Hospital in Yerevan, performed by doctors from both Armenia and the U.S. through the Armenian International Medical Fund.
The day of her surgery, I visited Annushka and her parents in the hospital. She was doing well, and the operation was a success. Remarkably, unlike many children, she barely cried after anesthesia. Just 20 days later, her cochlear device was activated, and she could hear.
Every time I visit Armenia, I make a point to see Annushka. She is still working with her hearing specialist, and her family is filled with love and pride for her.