Jorge Luis

In an interview with social workers, Rogelia and Marciano shared some of their son’s story.

“My son, Jorge, has born with a heart condition, but we didn’t have the financial resources to see a doctor then. Last year he began getting very weak. Then he got a fever that wouldn’t go away. We took him to the hospital in Trinidad. They did some tests and told us the severity of his heart problem. The doctors referred us to the Japanese Hospital in Santa Cruz. Here they told us about the surgery that he needed. This news was devastating for us. We are people who live in the countryside, far from the city, but we can’t leave our son untreated anymore. He is a young man and has a lifetime ahead of him. That is why we are looking for all the help we can find to pay for the surgery. We are very grateful to all of the people who are helping us.”

On February 19, Dr. Barrientos and Dr. Jaldín at the Incor Hospital in Santa Cruz performed two procedures to replace Jorge’s pulmonary and aortic valves. Rogelia and Marciano left behind their home and farm to be with Jorge in the hospital during the weeks and months prior to his heart surgery. They have been staying with a friend in Santa Cruz and focusing their attention full-time to completing all of the pre-surgical labs and tests for Jorge’s surgery. Rogelia and Marciano were fortunate to find help from the Bolivian medical staff at the Incor Hospital, Puente de Solidaridad, and the Goff Gift Fund.

After five days in the hospital, Jorge was released to return home with his parents. He returns home to his older brother, older sister, friends and community with great hope for a healthy life.

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