Erlens is a three-year-old preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his mother in a village in central Haiti. He just started preschool, and is learning his letters and numbers. Erlens has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath.
Erlens will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On April 21st, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization is contributing to pay for his surgery.
Erlens’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 Erlens’s family overseas.
Erlens’s mother says, “Our family has been trying to find surgery for our son ever since he was born, we are so happy to get the news that he will be receiving the treatment he needs!”

