Lyse is an eight-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her mother, father and two younger sisters in Port-au-Prince. Her mother works as a pediatric nurse, and her father works as an office administrator to support their family. Lyse is in the fourth grade and is an extremely intelligent and focused student.
Lyse was born with patent ductus arteriosus, a cardiac condition in which a hole in the heart that normally closes shortly after birth remains open. As a result, blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving Lyse feeling weak and short of breath.
Lyse will travel to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On August 24, she will undergo cardiac surgery. This $5,000 surgery is subsidized by International Children’s Heart Foundation. Lyse’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 Lyse’s family.
“I would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping me to have a normal heart!” says Lyse.