Abdiel
Abdiel was detected for Ostium Primum Atrial Septal Defect ASD) along with jaw problems at three months old. ASD is a hole in the wall of the heart that separates the two upper chambers. This small hole is typically present at birth, but seals itself shortly after. When it doesn’t as in the case of ASD, it means the right side of the heart has to work extra work and there is excessive blood flow to the lungs. While Abdiel received as much care as possible from his mother at home, doctors determined he would need surgery to have a better quality of life.
Abdiel’s family had already been through a lot in the search for a better life. Originally from Cuba, Sander and Adiara first moved to Venezuela to support his maternal aunt. They moved to Bolivia when problems started to arise in Venezuela and they had sold everything they owned in Cuba. Sander and Adiara were happy to find some stability in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and welcomed baby Abdiel late last year. When doctors diagnosed Abdiel’s heart problem, they found themselves facing another major life hurdle. With support from Puente de Solidaridad, Fundacor, Dharma Social Projects, and the Cuban community in Santa Cruz, Abdiel and his family were able to find the help they needed to overcome this daunting new challenge.
Adiara shared, "When they told us about our child's health problem, we even thought of returning to Cuba to have surgery, but there is no material available to perform this type of surgery. Thank God we found Fundacor and with them you. Without your help our son could not operate, thank you very much."
By July, Abdiel was cleared to receive the needed surgery. Bolivian surgeons Dr. Barrientos and Dr. Jaldín performed the operation to close the hole in Abdiel’s heart. Four days later, Abdiel was discharged from the hospital. Sander and Adiara were thrilled to bring their baby home to build a new and better life together.