Yenni
Yenni was born when her mother, Vira, was only 16. Her father does not contribute financially to her upbringing, leaving Vira to sustain the household on her salary as a secretary. When Vira was eight months pregnant, her obstetrician detected an alarmingly weak fetal heartbeat and rushed Vira into an emergency cesarean. Yenni was diagnosed with two heart problems – persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and, even more concerning, coarctation of the aorta (CoA) – which should be carefully monitored and eventually treated. But Vira could not access the specialist appointments or treatments from her hometown of Vallegrande. When Yenni was six years old, they moved to Santa Cruz, but they continued to struggle financially.
In October 2024, Vira took her daughter to the doctor after she complained of strong chest pain and fatigue any time she tried to do any physical activity. The doctor said Yenni needed emergency surgery. Vira continued to postpone care, until she was connected to the local office of Puente de Solidaridad. In late February, Yenni finally underwent surgery. Since then, Yenni can breathe easier and has grown taller and put on weight.