Blanca
The day Blanca was born her parents were told that the girl had several heart problems. The initial diagnosis in that hospital was Tetralogy of Fallot, so the family was directed to the National Institute of Pediatrics to the Kardias program. “The truth was, it was shocking at first because we initially had no idea, no idea about this condition, no doctor even, and knew when Andrea was born, that she had a heart disease,” says the little girl’s father.
The family was very worried because they had no resources to pay for the treatment but they felt peace when they were told Kardias would cover the costs and that really the only thing they would have to worry about was Blanca.
After several frustrated attempts due to Blanca´s minor health problems, the surgery finally took place at the Kardias Heart Center ABC Hospital Medical Center. The surgery was carried out successfully and Blanca was in intensive care for several days. She had constant care 24 hours a day, always with the presence of a doctor and nurses. About a week after the operation, the family was able to take her home.
Little by little Blanca recovered. “All the people at Kardias were always very kind,” explains Blanca´s father, “they helped with our questions explaining the procedure, and they were supportive to us and Blanca in an unbeatable way.”
The family felt sheltered, “Kardias cares about you in providing you with a place to sleep, food vouchers.They make you feel protected, they make you feel, in the best way possible, calm and aware that the only thing you have to worry about is your son or daughter. “
Bernardo
Bernardo who is 10 years old lives with his aunt, who has taken care of him since his Dad passed away two years ago.
Bernardo always had the idea that he had a tumor inside his heart, which made him socially withdrawn and thus very lonely. Also due to his condition he was very limited in the amount of physical activity he could do before the surgery.
After seeing multiple specialists in public hospitals, he was referred to the Kardias program where he was diagnosed and treated. After the surgery Bernardo improved remarkably, his appetite and physical activity increased. He felt he could breath and run like other kids. Before, even climbing a flight of stairs posed a huge challenge for him, now he climbs up and down as if it had never happened.
Bernardo loves soccer, he likes to be a goalkeeper and he plays with his cousins when they visit him. He has plans for the future. His aunt says he has so many plans he won´t have time for everything. He is excited and happy living his life.
Keyli
Keyli is a one year old baby girl who was born in Veracruz, in a very little and poor town , far away from access to medical care. She was so sick that she was not gaining weight and at 1 year old she was only 11 pounds. Her parents knew something was wrong and travelled to another town to find a doctor. With very precarious instruments, the doctor was able to listen to her heart and hear a murmur which confirmed that there was something wrong. The doctor told the family they had to travel to Mexico City to find help.
Keyli arrived with the Kardias doctors having travelled for two days with almost no resources. Kardias gave her priority and gave her appropriate diagnosis and surgical treatment. The Kardias team knew that if this family went back to their town due to the waiting list they would probably never come back and Keyli would die.
Andrea
Andrea is an eight-year-old girl who has an identical twin sister. Sadly, when they were a year old, her mother died. The little girl´s older sister, only seventeen at the time, took over the care of the children.
Eventually the sister was able to officially adopt the girls making it possible for Andrea to have the heart surgery she desperately needed. After Andrea´s operation she quickly caught up with her twin sister and they can now play joyfully together in a way they couldn’t before. The girl’s “mother” sister has continued to care for the twins even though she now has children of her own.
When Andrea turned three, it became apparent that she was not developing properly. She had a congenital heart defect that made it impossible for her to keep up with her twin sister. This was distressing for both girls. Their older sister was not their legal mother, so she could not authorize the surgery.
Elieth
Shortly after being born, Elieth was diagnosed with a complex congenital heart defect. Her parents were told by the hospital´s doctors that she was incurable and had no chance of surviving. Elieth´s family is economically marginalized and her mom and dad struggled to understand what options they could consider for her wellbeing. Kardias took her case and proceeded to grant her and her parents the means for her immediate treatment and her best hope for survival.
Today, we are proud to say that less than one-year-old Elieth is well and back home with her parents.
Elieth´s case was quite delicate. Her short age and complex situation offered her slim chances at a better life with short time for consideration. She indeed required surgical intervention, and once she had undergone the procedure, she stayed at the CVICU for about 35 days in an intensive recovery process.
Rafael
Rafael was given for adoption as a baby. Rocio and her husband met him as a baby and fell in love with his beautiful spirit. From the beginning they were warned that the child had a heart defect and that he needed treatment immediately, otherwise, he would have no life expectancy. If they decided to adopt and care for him, they had to consider his condition. The family decided to adopt. Soon after they reached out to Kardias for help through a public hospital, Rafa was given a diagnosis and had to undergo surgery.
The first surgery performed seemed to have been successful, however recovery was not what they expected. The second surgery was successful and Rafael’s recovery was quick: three days after the intervention, he was back home.
Rafael has been very important to his family. Juan José, the older brother who is 15 years old, does not leave home unless he hugs and kisses Rafa, he adores his little brother and Carlos Emilio, age 9, cradles and plays with him all the time.
“People who know him before the surgeries, cannot believe how healthy he looks, the change was radical.” Rocío says that if people knew more about Kardias, they would know that there is life expectancy for their children, regardless of socioeconomic status. “Our biggest fight as parents is against misinformation.”
Donovan
Donovan will turn four in July. People who knew him before his surgery cannot believe he is the same boy. “He looks great, ”says María Consuelo, grandmother of the small boy, “although he is not yet going to school, he has already learned numbers and colors in both english and spanish.”
When Donovan was born, he seemed to be healthy, but his grandmother noticed that his breathing was strange. However, the doctors at the small, underfunded hospital where he was born said he was fine.
After several examinations, the doctor determined that Donovan had a congenital heart defect which needed surgery. Due to the level of complexity, the child had to be transferred to another public hospital which referred him to Kardias.
Donovan underwent surgery at the new Kardias Heart Center, Only five days after surgery, Donovan was released from the hospital, as “a new child.” He started gaining height and weight almost immediately, it was no longer hard for him to breathe.
“The first thing he did when he arrived home was to climb on his tricycle and pedal around. Donovan loves soccer and he just received the doctor’s permission to play.
