This is Adaessa, a five-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives in Port-au-Prince with her mother, father, and five older siblings. Adaessa is extremely friendly and outgoing, and loves to give hugs and dance.
Adaessa was born with a condition called ventricular septal defect. A large hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Because of this, blood leaks through this hole without first passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen. The oxygenated and deoxygenated blood therefore mix, leaving Adaessa sickly and weak.
Adaessa will fly to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On January 26, she will undergo cardiac surgery. This $12,000 surgery is subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman Islands. Adaessa’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 Adaessa’s family overseas.
Her mother shares with us, “I see Adaessa get tired very easily when she tries to play with other children. I am hopeful that after the surgery she can play with no problems.”