Milton
One-year-old Milton lives with his parents and six-year-old sister in the city of Oruro in western Bolivia. Oruro was founded in 1606, and for several centuries was famous for its silver mines heavily exploited by the early Spanish conquerors. It is now best known for its colorful pre-Lenten Carnival processions. But many residents continue to eek out humble livings working in the mines, now mostly tin, tungsten and zinc. Fortunately for Milton, his father, Ivan, is able to sustain his family relatively well with a moderate income of around $300 dollars a month as an electro-mechanic.
But such an income was not sufficient to access the surgery Milton needed for a serious heart defect called aortic coarctation. First the family had to travel across the country just to confirm the diagnosis, given the lack of specialized cardiology services in Oruro. Multiple specialists reiterated to his parents that surgery was the only definitive treatment option. But they couldn’t afford it. Then they heard about a one-week surgical campaign organized by Puente de Solidaridad at the private Clínica Las Américas in Santa Cruz. The campaign offered heavily-subsidized access to a minimally-invasive procedure that would insert a balloon through a catheter to repair Milton’s aortic valve. In addition to the financial support provided through Solidarity Bridge’s Heart Program, Puente de Solidaridad staff also provided logistical assistance and emotional support for Milton’s overwhelmed and anxious family.
Milton was discharged just one day after his surgery, and has recovered remarkably well.