Iloveda is a young woman from Haiti. She lives on an island off the west coast of Haiti with her parents, who are both farmers. Iloveda is in the seventh grade in school, and would like to be a nurse or a teacher when she grows up.
Iloveda has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage prevents adequate blood flow through one of the valves. This condition leaves her sick and short of breath, and would eventually be fatal.
Iloveda will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On May 8, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole with a patch, and remove the muscular blockage. Another organization, HeartGift Foundation, is contributing $20,000 to pay for surgery.
Iloveda’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 Iloveda’s family overseas.
She says, “I am excited to have a healthy heart and to do everything I want to do without getting tired!”
