Carmen

Seven-year-old Carmen underwent surgery in January of this year to treat her Tetralogy of Fallot heart defect. In the months that followed, Carmen had heart issues which her mother believes were linked to a botched dental treatment. During a post-surgical check-up Carmen’s doctors saw that the pericardial patch placed in January was detaching. This would threaten the evolution of her treatment. She would need surgery to close a ventricle septal defect and patent foramen ovale. The prospect of an additional surgery was too much for the small family, so they returned to Puente de Solidaridad for assistance.

Carmen continues to live with her mother and maternal grandparents in an adobe house on the outskirts of the city of Cochabamba. They have electricity but no running water or sewage. They get water from a nearby stream. Carmen’s mother earns roughly $7 per day selling flowers in the market. Carmen’s father abandoned the family, and her mother is now taking legal action against him. She shared, “I am seriously concerned about my daughter's situation. I am very sad because her dentist did a very bad job. Now Carmen must have another operation. The truth is that I have exhausted my resources. I don't know what else to do, but I am willing to do my best for my daughter to recover.”

Carmen was admitted for surgery at the beginning of April. Dr. Carlos Brockmann and Dr. Janice Rodriguez performed the corrective surgery. One month later, social workers interviewed Carmen’s mother to see how she was doing. She was happy to report, “Carmen is doing very well. She is playful and has resumed being goofy and running around. She doesn't get tired anymore. She cries when she sees needles and she doesn't like being in the hospital, but she’s doing very well.” Our deepest thanks to Carmen’s medical team, Puente de Solidaridad, and the Goff Gift Fund for making such a profound difference in this little girl’s life.

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