“Garlens was born with a relatively rare condition in which his pulmonary veins do not connect to the heart in the normal anatomical location,” says our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “As a result, blood and oxygen cannot circulate normally through his body, making him extremely sick and oxygen-deprived. Without surgery, his life expectancy would be months or weeks.”
One-year-old Garlens is his mother’s first child, and they live with his grandmother just east of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Garlens was diagnosed with total anomalous pulmonary vein return, which is a rare congenital heart condition.
“Garlens and his mother have been staying together in an intensive care ward for the past several months, and despite his condition he has been growing and developing, and plays well with other babies and with adults,” HCA continues.
International Children’s Heart Foundation has contributed $7500 to heart surgery for Garlens, but he still needs an additional $1500 to cover overseas preparation and transportation.
“Following surgery, normal blood flow should be restored to Garlens’s heart and he should be able to live a full and normal life,” HCA adds.
Garlen’s mom tells us: “I have been praying to God every day to make a path for Garlens to live. My prayers are about to be answered!”
