Robert from Haiti raised $1,500 for life-saving heart surgery.

100%

$1,500 raised, $0 to go

$1,500

raised

to go

Robert's story
Robert's update

February 15, 2016

Robert, an 11-month boy from Haiti, was born with a heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot. This heart condition is characterized by four heart defects that combine to prevent oxygen from effectively circulating throughout the body. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), shares that as a result, Robert has difficulty breathing and remains sickly.

Robert, who lives in Port-au-Prince with his mother and father, “is a quiet and happy baby and likes to play with toys and listen to music,” HCA details. “His mother stays at home with him, and his father works as a vendor in the local market.”

Most children who are diagnosed early with tetralogy of Fallot can live relatively normal lives if they receive appropriate treatment. Health City Cayman Islands has also committed to subsidizing Robert’s surgery with $3,500. An additional $1,500 will allow Robert the surgery he needs to become healthy.

HCA details: “During surgery, a shunt will be placed, allowing Robert’s blood to receive more oxygen while his heart continues to grow and develop. In about two years, he will require a second surgery to completely repair his cardiac defect.”

“I have been very worried about Robert and I am so glad that there is a surgery that can help him be safe and healthy,” Robert’s mother shares. “Thank you, everyone!”

Robert, an 11-month boy from Haiti, was born with a heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot. This heart condition is characterized by fou...

Photo of Robert post-operation

June 24, 2016

Robert received life-saving heart surgery.

During surgery, a shunt was placed that will allow oxygen-rich blood to circulate within Robert’s body, enabling his heart to continue growing and developing. In one to two years, he will require a second surgery to completely repair his heart.

“Robert looks so much healthier since his surgery,” his mother shared. “He has much more energy. I am very happy and would like to thank everyone.”

During surgery, a shunt was placed that will allow oxygen-rich blood to circulate within Robert's body, enabling his heart to continue growi...

February 15, 2016
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Robert was submitted by Owen Robinson, Executive Director at International Cardiac Alliance.
February 19, 2016
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Robert received treatment at Health City Cayman Islands in Cayman Islands. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
March 1, 2016
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Robert's profile was published to start raising funds.
March 3, 2016
FULLY FUNDED
Robert's treatment was fully funded.
June 24, 2016
TREATMENT UPDATE
We received an update on Robert. Read the update.

Funded by 54 donors

Treatment

Overseas Prep and Transportation

Diagnosis
Procedure

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

When a hole exists in the heart, a physician can hear a buzzing noise, or murmur, in the child's chest as blood passes through the hole at high velocity. The child's parents might notice that their son or daughter cannot keep up with other children in daily activities. In severe cases, the lack of oxygen in the bloodstream can lead to dramatic symptoms, such as blue lips and tongue, clubbed fingers and toes, and heart failure. The patients treated by Haiti Cardiac Alliance tend to fall into two categories. They are either born with some type of hole or defect in the heart, or they develop valve disease as a result of an untreated strep throat infection (rheumatic fever). Patients with rheumatic valve disease experience swelling of the abdomen and extremities, as the heart tries to circulate blood through the body despite the valve's dysfunction.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Virtually all of the conditions treated at Haiti Cardiac Alliance will eventually lead to death without surgery, the majority of them within one to two years. In the meantime, patients experience heart failure as their hearts struggle to compensate for the presence of leaks or other defects. In most conditions, the heart becomes fatigued, limiting the child's ability to be active, go to school, and participate in daily life.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Families in Haiti often have complex cultural mechanisms for understanding cardiac illnesses and their causes, sometimes involving voudou or other religious belief systems. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of Haitian families in our medical partner's program also engage with the medical explanations and treatment of these conditions. Parents are willing and cooperative participants in their child's treatment.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

The patient is first referred to our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), by a pediatrician or another medical practitioner who detects symptoms that might be cardiac in nature. HCA staff then perform an echocardiogram to diagnose the cardiac condition. If surgery is required, the child joins a triaged waitlist to be placed for surgery with partner hospitals. It can sometimes take 6-12 months to move through this waitlist. During this period, HCA provides periodic cardiac checkups, changing the patient's triage position as appropriate. The child and his/her guardian then travel to the hospital with an HCA social worker. Typically, the child spends 4-5 days in or near the hospital prior to surgery for testing and examinations. After surgery, he or she spends several more days as an inpatient prior to being discharged. When the child is strong enough to travel, usually after several more weeks, he/she returns home to Haiti. HCA provides regular cardiac checkups for at least five years postoperatively before the final discharge from their program.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

These treatments are almost always life-saving in nature. These cardiac conditions are not survivable over the long-term without surgery. Within weeks after surgery, the patient should notice a difference in energy level. Many patients also undergo a growth spurt and/or gain significant weight after a surgery.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

The risk of death during or shortly after an open-heart surgical procedure is about 3%. Other risks, though rare, include stroke and post-operative infection. In a small percentage of cases, the material used to patch the hole "blows," and a follow-up surgery is necessary to re-patch the defect.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Patients come to Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) from the entirety of Haiti. This can involve three days of travel in buses, pickup trucks, or even on horseback. There is no cardiac surgery of any kind available in Haiti outside of the HCA treatment network.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

In general, patients are treated with medications to prevent heart failure until they are ready to travel. Patients may also seek care from traditional healers, who may use liquids and powders derived from local plants and roots.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Sok Him is a 25 year-old garment factory worker, living in Kampong Thom province, Cambodia, with her husband and five year old son. Sok Him's husband supports the family by working as a delivery driver. Until recently, Sok Him had been a homemaker. However, she has decided to return to work, as her son is about to enter kindergarten. Sok Him was born with polydactyly of her left hand, which means that she has an extra thumb on that hand. This condition makes it difficult for her to use her left hand at work. On July 3rd, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra digit. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $299 to fund this procedure. After surgery, Sok Him will feel more comfortable, and she will be able to use her hand more easily, especially as she returns to work. Sok Him shared: "I hope I can have surgery so that I can do my work more easily."

Meet Samuel: a 34 year old who lives with his wife and 10 year old child in Malawi. He works as a painter, while his wife is a homemaker. In 2021, Samuel started experiencing intermittent swelling in his left inguinal region. He didn't seek medical intervention at the time, since the swelling wasn't painful. Last December, however, when the episodes of swelling began to increase, and he also began to experience greater discomfort which interfered with his ability to work, Samuel decided to seek help. On May 12th, Samuel met with doctors at Partners in Hope Medical Center, who diagnosed him with a left inguinal hernia. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is seeking $575 to fund the hernia repair surgery which Samuel needs, and which is scheduled for May 20th. Samuel believes the operation will help him get better, and enable him to return to work, so that he can provide support for his family. Samuel said: "I am looking forward to getting better."

Sokkea is a 42-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He lives with his wife and two young daughters in Phnom Penh. Sokkea's wife sells drinks from a cooler at his construction site to supplement their income. In his free time, Sokkea and his family go to the nearby Mekong River to play and go fishing. Five years ago, Sokkea developed an ear infection, which caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. Now, Sokkea experiences hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear discharge, making it difficult for him to hear. Additionally, Sokkea is losing income because he must visit many clinics and pharmacies for medications that aren't working. Fortunately, Sokkea could travel to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On May 3rd, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is requesting $926 to fund this procedure, which covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Sokkea contributed $100 to his care. When asked about his hopes for the future, Sokkea shared that he wants to get better so he can improve his work and family life.

Robert's Timeline

Funded by 54 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.