Alex
Jacinto, 30, and Emminia, 29, live with their two young sons in a 3-room home outside the Bolivian city of Cochabamba. They moved to Cochabamba from La Paz, leaving behind their extended families, in search of better job opportunities. Both know how to sew, so they set up a workshop in their home to produce sports uniforms that they then sell in the Cochabamba markets.
The couple welcomed their youngest son, Alex, in August 2023. It had been an easy pregnancy and birth for Emminia, and Alex seemed like a normal infant during his first few months at home. But at his six-month check-up, the doctor noticed a heart murmur. She told the family it might resolve on its own, but they should keep a close eye on him in case of any changes in his health. Soon after that, his parents noticed that Alex was always sweating, and had stopped putting on weight or growing in length. They went to the third-tier public pediatric hospital in Cochabamba, Hospital Germán Urquidi, where the specialist ordered a thorough cardiological work-up including EKG and ultrasound. The studies confirmed a diagnosis of Ventricular Septal Defect and mitral valve insufficiency. So far, the malformation had not caused further damage, but if left as is, it would strain the baby’s heart and lungs.
It was hard for the parents to believe their son was that sick and needed surgery. They sought a second opinion, which echoed the recommendation to operate as soon as possible. Their family was unable to help them, so they sold their sewing machine, but they were still far from the sum needed for the operation. They were then referred to Puente de Solidaridad, whose social workers tapped funds from the Goff Gift fund and secured an additional contribution from Herzeverein, another foundation. Alex underwent surgery on April 5 at the private Belga Clinic, and was discharged on April 12.