Meet eight-year-old Christna, a playful young girl from Haiti. Christna loves to play with other children but is easily exhausted, especially in hot weather, because she has congenital heart disease. Caused when there is a hole in the septum that separates the ventricles in the heart, Christna’s condition makes her out of breath and very tired during and after physical activity and exertion. Without surgery, doctors say Christna will face serious complications and will continue to become tired after minimal activity.
Christna lives with her parents, two brothers and sister. Her father is a farmer and her mother cares for the family. They cannot afford the cost of surgery. They say, “We think it is a blessing from God that Christna can have her surgery. It’s a miracle to us!”
For $1,500, doctors can repair the hole in Christna’s heart by performing a cardiopulmonary bypass. With surgery, Christna will be able to grow up healthy and lead a normal life. Let’s help Christna play with her friends again!