"Fernando is a shy but very intelligent boy," shares our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). "He knows how to read and is starting to do math by himself." Five-year-old Fernando has a congenital heart disease called ventricular septal defect. "Fernando was born with a hole between the two ventricles (lower chambers) of his heart," says HCA. "Because of this hole, blood can flow back to his body without first obtaining oxygen from the lungs, leading to fatigue and heart failure." "He has not yet started kindergarten because of his illness," HCA continues. "But his family is eager to send him to school after his surgery. He would also like to learn how to speak English!" Health City Cayman Islands has contributed $7500 toward surgery that will close the hole in his heart, and $1500 will cover the remaining costs, which includes overseas transportation from Haiti. "We tried many, many hospitals who all told us it wasn't possible for him to have surgery," Fernando's mother shares. "But we kept praying and our prayers were answered!"