Marc is a 16-year-old boy who lives in an urban neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, with his parents and four younger siblings. He is in his first year of high school and would like to eventually become either an engineer or a teacher.
Marc was born with a condition called atrial septal defect. The birth defect means there’s a hole between the two upper chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole, which often leaves Marc weak and short of breath.
Fortunately, the condition is highly treatable with surgery. There is not a local pediatric cardiac surgical team in Haiti, but our medical partner Haiti Cardiac Alliance has arranged to accompany Marc to the Dominican Republic. There, on May 25th, doctors will use a catheter to plug the hole in his heart.
“I have been waiting for this chance for many years,” Marc said, “and I am very happy the time is almost here!”
The Rotarian-based organization Gift of Life International is contributing $5,000 toward Marc’s surgery. His family needs to raise $1,500 to help cover remaining medical costs and travel for Marc.