Gael
Gael is Cynthia and Ari’s only son. His young parents were very concerned about their two-year-old boy because he got tired when feeding, vomited quite often, had difficulty sleeping, and cried almost all night long. Cynthia was so concerned that she told Puente de Solidaridad’s social worker that she feared Gael might fall asleep and never wake up again. Gael’s tears kept the whole family awake.
In June, after an echocardiogram, specialists told Gael’s parents that he may have any number of heart pathologies. Tests revealed the potential for Tetralogy of Fallot; pulmonary mixed stenosis; hypoplasia of the ring and pulmonary trunk; right hypertrophic ventricle; and several other concerns. Doctors recommended a cardiac catheterization for a more definite diagnosis and to determine next steps, which included possible open-heart surgery.
Cynthia and Ari were distraught. They had already made a huge effort to take Gael to a private doctor and pay for necessary tests. Now, they were not sure how to move forward – how to pay for cardiac catheterization and open-heart surgery if their worst fears were confirmed.
Ari had recently been hired as a welder at a construction company. He had no health insurance and was making, as he still does, only the Bolivian minimum wage of roughly US $310 a month. This, and support from extended family members, allowed Gael’s parents to cover basic food and living expenses. Finding a way to pay for the cardiac catheterization, and possibly surgery, was difficult to imagine.
A pediatric heart specialist referred Gael’s family to Puente de Solidaridad. Puente welcomed Gael into their Children Heart Surgery Program and committed to help with costs for the cardiac catheterization and necessary open-heart surgery. Ari and Cynthia also received emotional support, accompaniment, and guidance from Puente’s staff as they navigated through the health system and recovery process for young Gael. The open-heart surgery has been hard on Gael’s fragile body. Yet his will is strong, and he is making slow and steady recovery.
Cynthia and Ari are deeply grateful to Puente de Solidaridad and to the Goff Gift Fund for making Gael’s surgery possible. They call this the beginning of “Gael’s new life.”