Romero
Oscar, Pura and their two children live in the tiny town of Abapó, near the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains. Oscar works as a mason’s assistant to support the family and provide for basic needs. Pura stays home to care for one year old Romero, who needs special attention due to a rare congenital heart defect.
Pura shared, “When my daughter was a baby, the doctors told me she had a heart problem and that we would have to go out of the country or to Cochabamba to operate. That news was very difficult for us since we did not have the capacity to take her to another place. It was very painful to think of our daughter becoming sick and there was nothing we could do.”
Romero was diagnosed with PAPVC, a defect which affects the flow of blood within the heart. Doctors referred the family to Puente de Solidaridad for a socio-economic assessment. Soon Pura received a phone call letting her know that her daughter was selected for surgery. She shared, “It was the best news they could give us!”
On November, 6th Romero was able to undergo corrective surgery at the Fundacor Hospital in Santa Cruz through the generous support of Dharma Social Programs. Romero’s mother expressed her emotions after the surgery, saying “Finally, I feel hopeful that my daughter is going to be healthy. I’m so happy to know she can lead a normal life. I am very grateful for the help for my daughter.”