Meet Maudeline, a 13-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents, three younger sisters, and her grandfather. Maudeline is in the sixth grade, a good student, and hopes to be a doctor or nurse when she grows up. “She also likes going to church, singing, and helping her mother around the house,” Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) tells us.
“Maudeline was born with a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus, in which a hole between the aorta and the pulmonary artery which normally closes naturally when a child is born, instead remains open,” HCA writes. “Blood flows through this hole, preventing normal circulation through the body. As a result, Maudeline is frequently short of breath and out of energy.”
Health City Cayman Islands has stepped up to help Maudeline cover the cost of the surgery she’ll need to close up the hole in her heart. $5000 will fund the surgery but Maudeline still needs $1500 for things like prep and overseas transport.
“Following closure of the hole, Maudeline should be able to lead a normal life with no cardiac symptoms,” HCA continues. “I’m not scared at all about having surgery,” Maudeline says. “I’m looking forward to it!”
Let’s fund the remaining $1500 of Maudeline’s treatment.