Ricardo is a three-year-old boy from Haiti. He lives in an orphanage in Port-au-Prince. He has many friends and enjoys playing with them and drawing cartoons.
Ricardo was born with a cardiac condition called tricuspid atresia, in which one of the four valves of his heart is missing. As a result, blood cannot flow normally through his heart and into his body, leading to heart failure.
Ricardo will fly to Akron Children’s Hospital to receive treatment. On June 18, he will undergo cardiac surgery. During surgery, doctors will create a new pathway for blood to flow around the missing valve. Akron Children’s Hospital is contributing $25,000 to pay for surgery.
Ricardo’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 Ricardo’s family overseas.