Marvens is a toddler from Haiti. He lives with his mother and older sister in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. His mother is currently seeking employment.
Marvens has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect and pulmonary stenosis. Marvens was born with a hole between the two upper chambers of his heart, as well as one of the four valves of his heart that is too small. These conditions combine to make his heart work too hard to pump blood to his body, leaving him sick and short of breath. Marvens also has Down syndrome.
Marvens will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On February 2, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a catheter to insert a device into the hole in his heart to close it, and will also use a balloon to stretch his valve open. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $14,000 to pay for surgery.
Marvens’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 Marvens’s family overseas.
His mother says, “I will pray for God to bless everyone who is helping Marvens get better!”