“Solanie has been getting coughs and fevers ever since she was born,” shares Solanie’s mother. “We have been very worried about her.”
Seven-month-old Solanie, a baby girl from Haiti, was born with a cardiac defect called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). With this condition, “a hole in the heart which normally closes shortly after birth remains open,” explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “Blood leaks through this hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her sickly and weak.”
If left untreated, PDA can eventually cause problems such as high blood pressure in the lungs, infections in the heart, or heart failure.
In order to avoid these complications, Solanie needs to undergo cardiac surgery. However, Solanie’s family cannot afford to pay for the treatment she needs on their single income—her father’s construction job.
Gift of Life International has already subsidized $5,000 towards this treatment. Solanie needs to raise $1,500 through Watsi to fund surgery preparation and overseas transportation, as this specialized heart surgery is not easily accessible in Haiti.
“Following surgery, Solanie should be able to lead a normal life with no further cardiac symptoms,” HCA tells us. She will be able to return home to her parents and three siblings, who love playing with her, and look forward to seeing her regain full health.
