Yhair is the third child of his mother and father, who farm and raise cows in a rural area in central Bolivia. Shortly after being born, his mother noticed he struggled to breathe and took him to the doctor.
Yhair was diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta, a condition in which the blood vessel leading from the heart is too narrow, causing blood to back up. This can lead to difficult breathing, heavy sweating, and irritability in an infant. Without treatment, it can lead to brain bleed, stroke, and enlarged heart.
Our partner International Cardiac Alliance is looking to raise $1,500 to fund surgery for Yhair. During surgery, doctors will open the aorta up to a more normal size. After surgery, he will hopefully have improved breathing and activity tolerance.
Yhair’s mother shared: “I was very afraid to come to La Paz for the surgery, but I gathered all my courage and I am hopeful everything will be ok.”