Valentina

Valentina is the youngest of five children. She began to exhibit health problems very early in her life, and her health continued to decline as she suffered from pneumonia as a one-year old infant. Her mother, Luciana, stated, “From the age of six months, my daughter began to present symptoms, she was even hospitalized for twenty-eight days for pneumonia, and I began to dedicate myself to her care.”

Dr. Jaldín from Fundacor Hospital in Santa Cruz diagnosed Valentina with Atrial Septal Defect, a congenital defect that causes a hole in between the wall of the upper chambers of the heart. The infant patient was in need of urgent heart surgery, and soon, concerns regarding the costs of Valentina’s treatment arose. With Luciana staying home and taking care of Valentina and her siblings, Valentina’s father is the sole provider of the household, which includes the maternal grandparents. Valentina’s father works as a mechanic helper, and although he is able to cover the costs of food and basic living expenses for the family, his income is not steady, and the expenses surrounding Valentina’s cardiac treatment and procedure were not affordable for the family of nine. Prior to the procedure, Luciana shared, “The doctors told us that she needs heart surgery. We are afraid of what may happen, but we also do not want to see her suffer. Together with my family, we are carrying out activities to be able to have the financial resources.”

Fortunately, Valentina was able to receive the heart procedure on October 19, 2020 with the help and support of Puente Solidaridad and the Goff Gift Fund. The patient was discharged soon after and is currently in stable condition. A safe and steady recovery is expected for Valentina, and her family is grateful to everyone who made this successful heart surgery possible. 

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