This is Nesca, a 11-year-old girl from Haiti. Nesca lives with her parents, two siblings, and four other relatives.
“Nesca loves to play ‘hide and seek’ and go to church,” shares our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “She plans to continue with her schooling and hopes to become a doctor. She loves math and feels that this is her strongest subject in school.”
“Nesca was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, which involves a hole between the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart,” HCA explains. “Blood passes through this hole and back to the body without first obtaining oxygen, leaving her constantly short of breath and unable to exert herself.”
Nesca needs cardiac surgery to close the defect, and the procedure will cost $1500. After surgery, blood will flow through hear heart normally, and she will see relief of all of her symptoms.
“I am looking forward to being able to run and play after my surgery!” Nesca tells us.