Pedro is five years old and in preschool, where he is learning his letters and numbers. He has two older sisters, with whom he likes to play. He and his sisters live with their grandmother in a town not far from the capital of the Dominican Republic.
Pedro was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. Although Pedro is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. Pedro will be one of the first children to receive this care.
First, Pedro will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 11. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Pedro also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and his family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Pedro’s surgical care.
His grandmother says, “It makes me sad to see Pedro get tired so easily when his sisters are playing. We will all be very happy when he has a healthy heart.”
