All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS)

Bettcherly is a student from Haiti. He lives with his mother and two brothers in a small city in southwestern Haiti. He likes attending school and listening to soccer on the radio. Bettcherly has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral and aortic regurgitation. Two of the four valves in his heart are severely damaged due to an infection suffered earlier in childhood. As a result, his heart cannot adequately pump blood through his body. Bettcherly will fly to India to receive treatment. On February 26, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove his two damaged valves and implant artificial replacements. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Bettcherly's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Bettcherly's family overseas. His mother says, "Our family is very grateful to everyone who is helping our son to be able to have this surgery."

Nephtalie is a student from Haiti. She lives with her mother and younger sister in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She enjoys going to school and attending church. Nephtalie has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral stenosis. One of the four valves of her heart is too tight and narrow as a result of a fever suffered earlier in her childhood. Blood backs up behind the valve, leading to heart failure. Nephtalie will fly to India to receive treatment. On February 25, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which Surgeons will first attempt to open the valve by inserting a catheter and expanding a balloon. If this is not successful, they will immediately proceed to open-heart surgery to open the valve. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Nephtalie's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Nephtalie's family overseas. She says, "I am very happy to have this surgery so I can be healthy and stop worrying about my health."

Winda is a student from Haiti. She lives on an island off the west coast of Haiti with her parents and three siblings. Her father is a fisherman. She is in seventh grade and hopes to attend university one day. Winda has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral and aortic regurgitation. Two of the four valves in her heart were severely damaged due to an infection earlier in childhood. As a result, her heart cannot adequately pump blood through her body. Winda will fly to India to receive treatment. On February 25, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will either repair the damaged valves in her heart, or replace them with artificial implants. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Winda's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Winda's family overseas. She says, "I am very excited to be able to get my heart fixed so I can start feeling better!"

Marc is a teenager from Haiti. Marc lives in Port-au-Prince with his father, who is a plumber, and his mother, who works in a bakery. He enjoys going to school and listening to soccer games on the radio. Marc has a condition called rheumatic heart disease, in which an infection severely damaged one of the valves of his heart, preventing it from adequately circulating blood to his body. This condition leads to fatigue and weakness and could eventually be fatal. Marc will fly to India to receive treatment. On September 21, he will undergo cardiac surgery. During surgery, his damaged valve will be removed and an artificial valve will be implanted in its place. Marc's family needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany his family overseas. Marc says, "I would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping to fix my heart problem and make me healthy."

Miteau is a teenager from Haiti. He lives in Port-au-Prince with his mother. He is a very good student and would like to become a lawyer or teacher. Miteau has a condition called rheumatic heart disease, in which an infection severely damaged one of the valves of his heart, preventing it from adequately circulating blood to his body. This condition leads to fatigue and weakness and would eventually be fatal. Miteau will fly to India to receive treatment. On September 21, he will undergo cardiac surgery. During surgery, his damaged valve will be removed and an artificial valve will be implanted in its place. Miteau's family needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany his family overseas. He says, "I am very excited about this trip so that I can lead a normal life and stop spending so much time in the hospital!"