Worthy and Strong: a Valentine’s Day Reflection
By Rachel McDonnell, Director of Development
Happy Valentine's Day! You likely can’t turn your head today (or pass through a grocery store over the past month) without seeing pink and red hearts everywhere. For me, the imagery of this day takes my mind to the patients of our Kids Heart Program. And when I learned that the name Valentine comes from the Latin word Valentinus—meaning worthy and strong—the connection was solidified.
In 2021, 37 children and young adults received cardiac surgery through our Heart Program. Each was born with a congenital heart malformation, the most common type of birth defect in the world - affecting nearly 1 of every 100 babies. These 37 Bolivian children and their families are inherently worthy of the advanced medical care that has improved their lives. Our patients also show us again and again how incredibly strong they are through their journeys toward healing. Below are just two stories that will warm your heart today. I share these stories with immense gratitude for all of our donors, Bolivian staff and medical partners, and the Goff Gift Fund. Together, they have made surgeries like these possible for Bolivian families for the past 20 years.
Gael, 16 months
Gael lives with his mother and grandparents in their rented, two-bedroom home in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. At his one-month check-up, the pediatrician noticed his blue fingertips, a sign of low oxygen levels in his blood. Cardiologists diagnosed Gael with congenital pulmonary valve stenosis—the heart valve that transfers oxygen from his lungs to his heart was too narrow. While preparing for a procedure that would improve the function of his heart valve, his doctors at the Incor Clinic in Santa Cruz discovered additional malformations affecting both the left and right chambers of his heart. A few weeks after the valve procedure, Gael underwent a second surgery to repair his heart.
Gael’s treatment at the prestigious Incor Clinic—the only specialized heart hospital in Santa Cruz equipped for such a complex case—would not have been possible without support from our program. His mother expressed her “eternal gratitude” for all the support from our donors, Gael’s doctors, and the caring social worker at Puente de Solidaridad who helped her and her son.
Aitana, 2 years
When Aitana was born in late 2019, doctors detected a heart murmur which led to the diagnosis of a congenital cardiac defect called supravalvular aortic stenosis. Without treatment, this condition would cause shortness of breath and chest pain, potentially leading to heart failure.
Doctors at the Incor heart clinic proposed an angioplasty procedure to improve blood flow through Aitana’s narrow aortic vessel. The prospect of paying for specialized surgery was overwhelming for Aitana’s young parents; her father works as a truck driver to cover the costs of rent, food, and the baby’s medical care, and his income had suffered during the pandemic. The couple was referred to our sister organization, Puente de Solidaridad, to ask for help. With our support, Aitana underwent heart surgery in September 2021. Doctors performed a less-invasive balloon angioplasty to open up the narrowed vessel, and she was discharged the next day. We are delighted to share that little Aitana is doing well! Her mother and father are grateful for the support.
PS. St. Valentine is also the patron saint of epilepsy. Join me in saying an extra prayer today for the ongoing work of our Neurosurgery & Neurology Institute seeking to close the epilepsy treatment gap in Bolivia.