This little boy is one-year-old John Knox from Haiti.
"John Knox lives with his parents and one older brother. His father is a fisherman, and his mother sells goods in the market," shares our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA).
"John Knox was born with a heart condition called pulmonic stenosis, in which the valve carrying blood between the heart and the lungs is too narrow to allow blood to pass freely," continues HCA. "Because of this, the body is deprived of oxygen and blood backs up into the heart, causing heart failure."
John Knox is a happy and curious baby, although he is small for his age because of his heart condition. His mother tells us, "I have seen that John Knox has been suffering ever since he was born, and it's very hard for me. I'm very happy that the doctors have agreed to help him!"
Surgery for his condition costs $1,500, and it is expected to have a huge impact on his health and development. "John Knox's pulmonary valve should be stretched to a near-normal size, allowing blood to pass freely to his lungs. He should be able to live a full life without further cardiac issues," explains HCA.