LIFE OF LITTLE SARA SAVED THANKS TO CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE, DR. SARRIS AND A TEAM OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE

Belgrade, 1 July 2008 – An eight year old girl, Sara Stanojevic from Serbia will now have a future, thanks to the unselfish effort of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine and Dr. Sarris from Athens who saved the little girl’s life.

After having a total of three operations on her little heart, this exceptional girl finally has a hope for a normal and healthy life. She was first operated on as an infant in Belgrade, followed by another operation in Athens in 2001.

The third operation and the most recent one, took place at the Mitera Hospital in Athens, which, as of recently, has a new Clinic. After having spent two months in this institution, little Sara and her concerned and caring parents, Dragan and Branislava, can finally breathe a sigh of relief – Sara is well, and when she recovers, her heart will be able to respond to the challenges of life.

Sara’s incredible ordeal began just three days after she was born, when she was operated at the Children’s Clinic in Tirsova Street in Belgrade. Dr Ida Jovanovic recommended that the second operation be done in Athens, by a very experienced and humane Dr. Yiorgos Sarris, Pediatric Cardio Surgeon, a good friend of Crown Princess Katherine and his team of doctors. The operation took place seven years ago. Unfortunately, that was not enough for little Sara. On 14 May this year, on the third floor of the Mitera Hospital in Athens, little Sara received another operation, hopefully the last one she will ever need.

Without the noble help of Dr Jovanovic, HRH Crown Princess Katherine and her Foundation in Belgrade, and of course without the help of Lifeline Greece, Dr Sarris and his great team of doctors and nurses, and the Board of the Mitera Hospital, little Sara would not have been alive today. This proves that humanity knows of no borders and nationality, and proves that human hearts united can make another human heart tick with life.

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine most sincerely thanks everyone who helped little Sara have a future.