Lucy is a seven-month-old baby from Bolivia. She lives with her mother and seven siblings. Her mother runs a small shop out of her home to sell snacks and other products, while her father works in agriculture.
Lucy was born with a cleft lip and palate, and is scheduled to have surgery in the coming months. She also has a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus, which causes Lucy’s blood to circulate poorly. She experiences a lot of weakness, and she’s at risk of heart failure if the issue goes untreated. With three different heart conditions, her doctors plan to first address a hole that exists between two blood vessels next to her heart and then allow her heart to grow before treating her other two conditions.
On April 14th, Lucy will undergo heart surgery at our medical partner’s care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of her cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications.
Lucy’s mother shared, “I’m glad we are here at this hospital; we travelled from far so my little daughter can have her surgery.”
