Marthe is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She is in seventh grade and is an excellent student. Marthe has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her sick and short of breath.
Marthe will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On September 9, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, HeartGift Foundation, is contributing $17,000 to pay for surgery.
Marthe’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 Marthe’s family overseas.
She says, “I am looking forward to my surgery so that I can stop worrying about my heart!”