Valenziela is a nine-year-old student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three siblings in a small farming community in southwest Haiti. She is in the second grade and likes music and art.
Valenziela has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of her heart cannot pump blood properly due to an infection she suffered earlier in her childhood.
Valenziela will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On July 15th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will repair her mitral valve so that it opens and closes more normally and can pump blood to the rest of her body. Another organization is funding Valenziela’s surgery.
Valenziela’s family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Valenziela’s family overseas.
From Valenziela’s mother: “Our family is hopeful that after this surgery, our daughter will have enough energy and health to start attending school again!”

