Luis
In late October 2022, Lillia, 23, and Darwin, 24, welcomed their first living child, who they named Luis. Because Lillia’s previous pregnancy had resulted in miscarriage, doctors monitored this pregnancy with extra diligence and Lillia meticulously followed all their instructions before and after the birth. So everyone was surprised when baby Luis fell severely ill at just 3 weeks of age.
There were no beds available at the region’s specialized children’s hospitals, so he was admitted to the general hospital in Portachuelo, a town an hour northwest of the departmental capital of Santa Cruz. Lillia stayed by his side as he was treated for pneumonia. Doctors from the Incor heart hospital in Santa Cruz eventually diagnosed Luis with total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), a condition in which the veins returning blood from the lungs to the heart don’t properly connect to the left atrium.
Lillia and Darwin were desperate to save their son, and turned to Puente de Solidaridad for guidance and support. The Incor surgical team agreed to attempt the delicate surgery to correct the birth defects which were incompatible with life for Luis. Unfortunately, the infant was unable to recover from the surgery, and passed away soon after. It was a devastating blow for everyone involved. The staff of the Santa Cruz office of Puente de Solidaridad continues to accompany the family as they mourn the loss.