Meet Eliezer, an eight-year-old boy from the Dominican Republic. Eliezer lives with his grandparents and sister. His father and mother work in a nearby city as a police officer and a house maid. Of all of his second grade classes, Eliezer loves math the most. He hopes to be a math teacher when he grows up.
Eliezer was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, meaning there is a hole between the two upper chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. If untreated, Eliezer’s condition could carry potential life-threatening repercussions, such as heart failure and high blood pressure.
Eliezer will eventually need to undergo cardiac surgery to close the hole in his heart. However, before that can take place, he needs to receive a full cardiac assessment, which will include physical exams, lab tests, medications, and an overnight stay at the hospital.
For $1,500, we can fund Eliezer’s assessment on February 8, as well as social support for Eliezer and his family during this challenging chapter of their lives. Gift of Life International has also contributed $7,000 to other costs associated with Eliezer’s care.
“We are hopeful that after this surgery Eliezer will be able to be a normal boy and able to play with his friends without getting tired,” shares Eliezer’s grandmother.