Helen – Age 7 – Haiti

Helen’s mother knew something was wrong when her baby struggled to breathe at just a few months old. Helen was diagnosed with a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart called a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Open-heart surgery was needed, but not available in Port Au Prince. Her medical journey led her to HeartGift and the US. Helen underwent surgery where doctors discovered an extremely large hole and successfully repaired it. They also put in a pacemaker to ensure her upper and lower chambers would work in sync together. Today, Helen is happy and healthy, growing bigger and stronger every day.