Success! Danae from Bolivia raised $1,500 to fund congenital heart surgery.

Meet Danae

Danae's story

April 29, 2026

Danae is a two-month-old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mother, who runs a small convenience store, and her father, who works as a taxi driver but has recently been at home helping care for Danae. She is the family’s first child.

When Danae was born, she had difficulty breastfeeding and gaining weight. Doctors informed her parents that she had a heart condition called coarctation of the aorta, a narrowing of the aorta that causes blood to back up and places strain on the heart. Danae needs surgery treatment to treat the condition.

Fortunately, on April 29th, our medical partner, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría, will help Danae undergo cardiac surgery to repair the affected section of the aorta. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Danae needs your support to fund her surgery and care.

Danae’s grandmother said, “We had travelled a long way to be here, and we are so happy that my first grandchild can receive her surgery now.”

Danae is a two-month-old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mother, who runs a small convenience store, and her father, who works as...

April 29, 2026
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Danae was submitted by Owen Robinson, Executive Director at International Cardiac Alliance
April 29, 2026
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Danae was scheduled to receive treatment at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría in Bolivia. 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.
April 30, 2026
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Danae's profile was published to start raising funds.
May 31, 2026
FULLY FUNDED
Danae's treatment was fully funded.
June 10, 2026
TREATMENT UPDATE
Danae's treatment update from International Cardiac Alliance is in progress.

100%

$1,500 raised, $0 to go

Funded by 14 donors

$1,500

raised

to go

Danae's story

April 29, 2026

Danae’s grandmother said, “We had travelled a long way to be here, and we are so happy that my first grandchild can receive her surgery now.”

Danae is a two-month-old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mother, who runs a small convenience store, and her father, who works as...

April 29, 2026
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Danae was submitted by Owen Robinson, Executive Director at International Cardiac Alliance
April 29, 2026
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Danae was scheduled to receive treatment at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría in Bolivia. 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.
April 30, 2026
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Danae's profile was published to start raising funds.
May 31, 2026
FULLY FUNDED
Danae's treatment was fully funded.
June 10, 2026
TREATMENT UPDATE
Danae's treatment update from International Cardiac Alliance is in progress.

Funded by 14 donors

Treatment

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $4,000 for Danae's treatment

For this patient, Watsi raises $1,500 and other contributions cover any remaining cost

Hospital Fees

$3,000

Medical Staff

$300

Medication

$100

Supplies

Travel

$600

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. Parents might notice that their child 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.

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

Most congenital cardiac conditions will eventually lead to death without surgery, often within a period of months or years depending on severity. 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?

Pediatric open-heart surgery has only been made available in Bolivia in recent years. Most families are unfamiliar with the concept of open-heart surgery and are at first quite reluctant to allow their child to undergo this care. Indigenous belief systems in Bolivia can at times contribute to a family's reluctance to proceed with surgery, and must be addressed through thoughtful conversation and social accompaniment of each family.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

The child's cardiac symptoms are usually first detected by their local pediatrician, who then refers the child to the nearest pediatric cardiologist for exam and diagnosis. Once diagnosed, HCA works with the local cardiologist and the surgical team in La Paz to ensure that the child is enrolled on the waiting list for surgery at the hospital, and works directly with the family to facilitate their transportation to La Paz, often from very long distances, and to support them socially and logistically after arrival. The child then undergoes surgery and recovers for about a week in La Paz before returning home to their community. HCA then coordinates with the child's pediatric cardiologist to ensure high-quality, long-term follow-up care, and provides financial support for medications and doctor visits as needed.

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

These treatments are almost always life-saving in nature as the cardiac conditions are not survivable over the long-term without surgery. Within weeks after surgery, the patient should already 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 will separate from the edges of the hole, 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?

For families without private-sector insurance, the cardiac surgery program in La Paz is the only year-round surgical program in Bolivia capable of treating children who need open-heart surgery. Children come to this program from throughout Bolivia; many families live in extremely remote and mountainous areas that can require several days of overland travel to reach La Paz. For patients who live more than 8-10 hours away by road, HCA arranges for families to come by plane from the nearest commercial airport to their home.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

In general, patients are treated with medications to prevent heart failure until they are able to obtain their surgeries. 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.

Htee is a 51-year-old man from Burma who currently lives in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. He lives with his wife, their three children, and his brother-in-law’s family. The family moved to the camp in September 2024 so that Htee could seek medical treatment in Thailand. His wife and brother-in-law work as agricultural day laborers, while Htee is unable to work due to his health condition. In June 2021, Htee began experiencing troubling symptoms. Doctors diagnosed him with urinary tract stones and prescribed oral medication, which helped improve his condition for a period of time. In August 2024, Htee's symptoms worsened. After several consultations and tests, doctors diagnosed him with a prostate urethral stone and recommended shockwave lithotripsy, a procedure that uses high-energy shock waves directed via X-ray or ultrasound to shatter kidney stones. Htee is scheduled to undergo treatment on February 2nd. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. With treatment, Htee hopes to recover and regain his ability to support his family. “I feel helpless and unable to support my family,” said Htee. “My wife has to be the breadwinner in this family, which makes me very sad. We are struggling financially, and I can’t even send my children to school. I am grateful for the support with my treatment and hope to be free from this suffering.”

Alfred is a 76-year-old elderly man from Malawi. He is a husband and father of eight children, all of whom are now grown and living on their own. He once relied on farming to support his family, but in recent years, his health has limited how much he can do. For the past five years, he has been walking with the help of a walking stick. In 2024, Alfred started experiencing urinary retention. Alfred was diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, which is an enlarged prostate. A catheter was placed and since then, it has needed to be changed every month, a process that has brought ongoing discomfort, making even simple activities difficult. He needs to undergo a prostatectomy, a surgery to remove part or all of the prostate. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Alfred receive treatment. The surgery is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on May 6th and, once completed, it will improve Alfred's quality of life. Alfred and his family are able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but need help raising an additional $530 to fund the surgery. He says, “I have lived with this condition for a long time, and it has not been easy. I want to be free from the catheter and the discomfort it brings. I am hoping to get help so that I can have the surgery treatment, and live more comfortably again.”

Ruth is a 56-year-old woman from Kenya. She is married and a mother of three children, two of whom are still in school. Ruth runs a small green grocery business near her home, while her husband works as a motorcycle rider. The little income they earn helps sustain their basic needs. Ruth had lived a healthy life until about three months ago when she started to experience gynecological symptoms including severe lower back pain, lower abdominal pain and bleeding. During the December holidays, she was unable to socialize because of the symptoms, which made it difficult for her to engage with family and friends. Ruth has visited several health facilities in her area, but the problem persisted. This prompted her to seek care from a gynecologist from our medical partner's care center, Nazareth Hospital, who diagnosed her with post-menopausal bleeding. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $657 to fund Ruth's surgery. On January 21st, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Ruth will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. "I really want to get back to my normal life and be able to take care of my family. I request for your assistance," said Ruth.