By oohanieltgooding@awokonewspaper.sl
5-year-old Joseph Kallon sits quietly on his mother’s lap, unaware that his life is about to change forever. Born with a hole in his heart, Joseph’s short life has been one of constant hospital visits, fainting spells, and shortness of breath. His parents, Josette and Dominion, have spent the last five years searching for a solution, visiting countless doctors and hospitals with no success. As if by a miracle, philanthropist Adonis Abboud referred them to Pikin Biziness, a local charity.
Founded in 2001, Pikin Biziness has become a beacon of hope for families like the Kallons. After returning to Sierra Leone following 10 months of exile in Guinea during the civil war, Adonis Abboud was heartbroken by the devastation left behind. He saw mothers and children suffering from hunger, poverty, and illness, with little to no access to medical care. This pain led him to launch the charity, which over the past 23 years has facilitated life-saving surgeries for 39 children suffering from complex heart conditions.
“I couldn’t stand by and do nothing,” Adonis said. “These children deserve a chance at life, and their parents shouldn’t have to watch them suffer simply because they can’t afford treatment.”
Joseph Kallon will be the 40th child Pikin Biziness will be sending abroad for heart surgery—and the first to travel to Switzerland. On Monday, October 14, Adonis, along with the Kallon family, will head to Guinea’s Conakry airport, where Joseph will be handed over to a group of dedicated medical conveyors. Three conveyors will accompany Joseph to France, and two will continue with him to the University Hospital of Geneva in Switzerland. There, after a successful surgery, Joseph will spend two months recovering before returning to Sierra Leone, his life and future now full of possibility.
For Josette and Dominion, this journey is nothing short of a miracle. “We never thought we’d be able to afford a surgery like this,” Josette said, her voice thick with emotion. “Pikin Biziness has given us hope when we had none left. We are so grateful.”
The charity’s first case dates back to 2005, when 8-year-old Abubakarr Jalloh became the first child sent for heart surgery under Pikin Biziness’ care. Since then, Adonis and his team have forged relationships with hospitals across the globe, sending children to India, France, Senegal, Ghana, and now Switzerland for life-saving operations.
“This is why we do what we do,” Adonis explained. “To see a child like Joseph go from struggling for every breath to running around, playing, and living a full life—that’s what makes it all worth it.”
