Bruno
Bruno was born December 6, 2019 in San Isidro, a small rural town in the department of Santa Cruz. He is the only child of Pablo, who works his parents and other people’s land, and Dayana, who works at home managing the house and taking care of Pablo’s parents and baby Bruno.
Pablo and Dayana were very happy and hopeful when Bruno was born. Just a year earlier, Dayana had a miscarriage when she was eight months pregnant. She was afraid that this would happen again. Thankfully Bruno was full term. Everything seemed normal during birth. Yet, Bruno had difficulty breathing and feeding. He was irritable, sweated a lot, and overall did not seem to be feeling well. On his month old check-up, Bolivian doctors at the Children’s Hospital ordered a set of exams that showed Bruno had a severe coarctation of the aorta. Bruno’s aorta was seriously narrow, which meant that his heart was overworking and that he had reduced blood flow to his lower body. Bruno’s congenital narrowing of the aorta needed urgent surgery. He was referred to Incor Hospital.
As a day laborer in rural Bolivia, Pablo makes roughly US$ 240 a month. This pays for food, transportation, utilities, medical expenses, and all the family’s other needs. The young family lives with Pablo’s parents, so at least housing expenses are spared. Dayana’s mother is a teacher in the public system. She helps with some of the costs associated with travel and hosts the family when they stay in Santa Cruz city to deal with Bruno’s health issues. Bruno was blessed with an extended family that offered support. But for Bruno to have the heart surgery he needed, the family needed solidarity of a broader kind.
At Incor, thanks to the long and well-established relationship with Puente de Solidaridad, the doctors suggested that Bruno’s parents visit the organization to seek for support for the surgery. After an urgent, in-depth study of Bruno’s case, Puente de Solidaridad accepted Bruno as part of the Heart Surgery Program. Just six days later after the first sets of tests, Drs. Barrientos and Jaldín surgically repaired Bruno’s aortic coarctation. He is still recuperating, but Bruno is strong and doing extremely well. He will likely have a normal life, but will need regular follow-ups to check on his heart.
Bruno’s mother, Dayana, is profoundly thankful for the warm and kind hearts that make possible surgeries for Bolivian infants and children.