23-month-old Kervens was born with two holes in his heart: one between the two upper chambers, the other between the two lower chambers. Blood leaks through these holes without first passing through the lungs to get oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak.
Because of the nature of his condition, the only way to know whether surgery is possible for Kervens is to first do a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, in which a catheter probe is inserted into his heart in order to take detailed measurements. The results of this test will determine whether he is operable, and if he is, his doctors will then go on to arrange surgery. This procedure is not available in Haiti, so he must travel to the Dominican Republic to undergo the test.
Kervens is a very calm and happy child who likes to be carried and to meet new people. Kervens lives in northern Haiti with his mother, aunt, and an older sister. His mother is currently unemployed and looking for work, and so the cost of the diagnostic test that her son urgently needs is beyond her financial means.
“My family is all praying that the test will go well and Kervens will be able to have his surgery,” Kervens’ mother shares.