Lucas
Lucas was born in November 2019 in the village of Cercado. His young mother struggled to support Lucas and herself, receiving psychological, legal, occupational, and social aid at the Aguila Women’s Center, where the patient and his mother have been housed since June. Eleven-month-old Lucas was diagnosed with various cardiac conditions, including a wide aortopulmonary window, patent foramen ovale, as well as severe pulmonary hypertension. His declining medical state required urgent open heart surgery.
Lucas’ mother faced financial difficulties in personally paying for Lucas’ medical procedure, as her only source of income was from the sale of items made in occupational workshops at the women’s center. Lucas’ mother shared, “Lucas only depends on me. For now we are welcomed in this center, and with the money that I manage to raise... it would be impossible to pay without the help of the institutions that are collaborating with us.”
With the help and support of various organizations and people, including Solidarity Bridge, the Goff Gift Fund, the coordinators at the Aguila Women’s Center, and Dr. Gabriel Echazú at the Belga Hospital in Cochabamba, Lucas was able to receive the procedure necessary to restore his cardiac health. Lucas’ surgery was performed on October 7, 2020. He was discharged nine days later. He is expected to recover promptly, just in time for his upcoming first birthday in November. Despite the discomforts and symptoms that he faced with his medical condition and procedure, Lucas continues to remain an active, curious, and strong young boy.