Amaia

With just one look at six-year-old Amaia, you could see something was wrong. Her lips were purple from lack of oxygen, and she was losing weight. Knowing the gravity of her daughter’s condition, Mireya decided to make the long journey to the city of Cochabamba for help. Amaia is the youngest of three children of Mireya and Oscar who live in the Amazonian state of Pando in the far north of Bolivia. After a three-day bus journey, Mireya and Amaia arrived at the Puente de Solidaridad office in Cochabamba to apply for help.

When they arrived, Amaia was sick with a viral infection. She would need to undergo antibiotic treatment to stabilize her condition before surgery. Cardiologists at the Los Angeles clinic diagnosed Amaia with tetralogy of fallot. This complex condition would possibly require more than one treatment and would be costly to correct, but Mireya was encouraged to find support.

Mireya shared, “We knew that perhaps Amaia’s treatment would take a long time, and that perhaps we would require more studies or treatments. I am willing to do everything so that my daughter is saved. But at the same time, I worry about my other children at home in Pando with their father. I know that now Amaia must be the priority, and for her we will make all the sacrifices.”

With generous assistance from the Goff Gift Fund, Amaia was able to undergo surgery in May of 2022. While the road to recovery may be long, Amaia and her family are fortunate to be accompanied with the care of so many along the way.

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