Eliot
Eliot was declared healthy when born in March 2021 in a public hospital in the central Bolivian town of Totora. His mother, Paola, took him to all his routine checkups, where the local pediatricians affirmed he was developing as expected. Paola leads a simple and humble life, sharing a room with her baby in her aunt’s house, and running a tiny neighborhood dry goods store where she can keep Eliot at her side. Although the couple doesn’t live together, Eliot’s father, who works in a bicycle shop in Cochabamba, is also attentive to Eliot’s needs, contributing about $100 per month toward his care.
Shortly after Eliot’s first birthday, both parents grew concerned that he was not eating well, and even losing weight. The pediatrician said he was just a picky eater, but Paola knew something wasn’t right. Shortly after his second birthday, when his public hospital doctors continued to wave off her concerns, Paola sought a second opinion at a private clinic. There, the pediatrician immediately suspected heart problems and referred Eliot to a specialist who diagnosed him with a large opening between his ventricle heart chambers. The congenital defect was significantly compromising his heart and lung function, and needed prompt surgical intervention to repair.
It was a lot to process for Eliot’s parents. As they told Marizol Mamani, the Puente de Solidaridad social worker: “It’s difficult for us as parents to understand everything the diagnosis entails. All that we know and understand perfectly well is that we want to save Eliot’s life. Each of us will do whatever is necessary so that he’s OK.”
Eliot’s June 2023 open heart surgery went exceptionally well, and he was discharged just five days later. Marizol spoke with Paola in early October. Paola was happy to report that Eliot is doing very well, and the entire family is relieved and grateful.