Josias
Josias Misael is the youngest of four siblings. During his first months of life, Josias was short of breath, did not want to eat much, and got tired easily. His pediatrician recommended that Josias be checked by a pediatric heart specialist. The family approached Dr. Carlos Brockmann, who after a thorough examination and an echocardiogram diagnosed a large Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) of the outflow tract. Josias condition was severe. He needed open heart surgery.
Overwhelmed with their son’s diagnosis, Josias’s parents expressed their added concern of their difficulties to cover the costs of the surgery and treatment. Dr. Brockmann referred them to Fundación Puente de Solidaridad. A social worker of the Fundación visited the household and after a full socio-economic evaluation, she determined that Josias was eligible to be a beneficiary of the Solidarity Bridge Children’s Heart Program. Josias father is an accountant and receives a monthly income. Yet, his income only covers monthly living costs for the family of six. Josias surgery was scheduled soon after the social worker’s visit. The problem was that Josias developed other health problems that needed to be taken care off before the surgery. And then, the Covid-19 pandemic arrived to Bolivia. Josias surgery had to be postponed.
Josias finally had his surgery on September 15, 2020, at ProSalud Hospital in Cochabamba. He was released four days later and is expected to recover promptly. His family is very grateful to the Puente de Solidaridad Foundation, the Goff Gift Fund, and all the help and support of those who made Josias surgery possible.