Givenson lives in a city in southwestern Haiti. He is a very happy and curious child who likes to make new friends and play with toy cars. Givenson was born with a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus.
In the womb, a baby gets the oxygen he needs from the mother’s blood through the umbilical cord. A special blood vessel in the baby’s heart called the ductus arteriosus allows the blood to bypass his lungs. After birth, this blood vessel should close within a few days. However, the vessel does not close in patients with patent ductus arteriosus. Blood leaks through this vessel without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen.
Givenson needs to undergo surgery to close this hole. First, he will undergo a full cardiac assessment on January 20. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Givenson also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and his family. Gift of Life International is contributing $3,500 to cover additional costs associated with Givenson’s surgical care.
“We are very excited that Givenson was chosen for this surgery so he can be a normal boy and we don’t have to worry about his heart any longer!” says his mother.