Help a Children's Heart Center Save More Lives

We are very grateful for your kindness and generosity; they have made a significant impact on the lives of many children in need of heart surgery. We are thankful for your willingness to make a difference and for your trust in our mission. Jade's story is just one example of how, through Kardias, children born with CHD in Mexico have a chance at life.

Jade is a 2-and-a-half-year-old little girl who was born with a heart defect. She was born into an economically vulnerable background. Jade's father had to migrate to be able to find work and send money to his family. Lucía, Jade's mother, stayed back in a small town with her three children. Lucía didn't find out that her daughter was born with a heart condition until Jade was 8 months old, and even then, she wasn't given an option to treat her; she was only referred to a hospital to close the cleft lip she was born with.

Lucía noticed her little girl looking very small for her age and saw that her lips were almost always purple in color. So, she took her to a private doctor who confirmed the diagnosis when Jade was 8 months old and warned her that it was a serious issue that needed prompt attention.

Jade was finally referred to the Kardias program where she received the medical attention and the heart surgery she needed.

Jade, who will be 3 years old on September 5th, is growing normally now. She loves the breaded chicken breasts that her mom prepares for her. "Jade has always been very active and playful, but now she's even more so. She's amazing: she runs, jumps, climbs, leaps – she doesn't stop! She's the most active of my daughters," says Lucía happily. She's also very intelligent; she understood everything even when she was little, but she had trouble speaking. Now she calls her mom to show her what she's doing, and with two words together at a time, she interacts with everyone who knows her."

This is the is the story of Sofia, a little girl who was born into a very poor family in a small village, Ixtapan del Oro, Mexico.      Shortly after her birth the doctors discovered that Sofia had a serious malfunction in her heart.  Her circulation was so poor her lips were purple.    Sofia needed corrective surgery as soon as possible.   She would not live to be a year old if she did not have corrective heart surgery soon.    The hospital closest to her village was not equipped to help her.   Her parents were referred to a hospital in Mexico City.   Every trip to the hospital meant  leaving at three AM and traveling four hours for her appointment.    In spite of the difficulties of going to and from the city, Sofia’s family made every single appointment.  

Then the family was informed that Sofia would be treated at the Pediatric Heart Center at the American British Cowdry (ABC) hospital .     Sofia’s father had been  borrowing money  he could so to  pay for Sofia’s corrective surgery.   It was not enough.

 The Kardias, ABC Hospital,  Children’s Pediatric Heart  Center  was willing to operate on Sofia.   Thanks to the donors who support the program at the ABC Hospital, the cost of the surgery was completely  covered by Kardias.    There was no way that this poor family could have afforded her surgery.  The family members were given a place to sleep, blankets and towels for the duration of Sofiia’s stay in the hospital.  On November 22, 2022, Sofia’s surgery was successfully preformed.    When you consider a donation that  can help save a life, think about Sofia and the children like her. 

Sofia’s story has a happy ending!  She is now one year old and has started to walk.  She no longer has purple lips.   She has gained weight.   What greater reward could a donor hope for than to know that their donation has made a difference and saved a life.

This is just one of many stories of children’s lives who have been saved by Kardias.  

The holidays remind us of the importance of being surrounded by our loved ones and of being grateful for what life offers us. We want to congratulate and thank all of you who contribute to our cause with your generosity.  As always, there are many challenges but we feel proud and blessed because we have reached all our achievements this year. We couldn´t have done it without you.

With your help we are giving more than you could imagine. We give children the opportunity to live through heart surgery and hope to their families. Because of you, we can change lives. Together, we can keep hearts beating and faces smiling.  

Angel has a little sister and brother and had heart surgery in September. He is well and back home. His mother is relieved to have the opportunity to take care of her three children equally while his son can lead a normal and plentiful life. Angel, besides having the opportunity to share his childhood with his siblings, can run, play, and laugh as every child should.

 

Happy Holidays!

 

The Kardias Team 

Links:

• http://www.kardias.org
• http://www.friendsofkardias.org

During her pregnancy, Patricia and Guillermo found out that one of their twins had a heart problem and unfortunately where they lived, San Luis Potosí, it was difficult to find the care they needed to repair Paz's heart. The diagnosis was confirmed: Tetralogy of Fallot and Paz would need heart surgery.

 

After her birth, on October 21, 2020, her parents discovered that the Medical Insurance they had did not cover Paz's illness and they felt totally helpless. They knew that their little girl would need corrective surgery at some point, but at the same time, it was extremely expensive and in search of options, a family friend recommended the Kardias program to them in February 2021, they went to their appointment at the Pediatric Heart Center where she was evaluated and confirmed the diagnosis.

 

 Before his surgery, the family lived in isolation. They feared for their daughter's health in the midst of a pandemic. Paz is fair-skinned, a little pale. She never turned purple but as she grew older, her oxygenation dropped and when she ate she became very exhausted and sweaty. After months of waiting, the surgeon Héctor Diliz broke the news: "Paz, you are about to receive the best gift you can have in your life." Paz was scheduled to have surgery on her birthday.

 

Paz was hospitalized for eight days after her surgery. Even her mom didn't think it was possible that she would be released so quickly. But just as his recovery was instantaneous, Paz's growth and development were also immediate. Within a week of being home, Paz learned to walk. When eating she no longer sweated or got tired. Today, Paz, her sisters, and her parents are very grateful to the Kardias program.  “As a family we are very close. You become much more sensitive, but knowing that Paz came to a community where there are good people, who support you and move you forward, gives you hope in people, in humanity, in your country. Knowing that this program exists in this country, these doctors, changes everything”, concludes Patricia, who before saying goodbye, expresses her gratitude and tells us that she will make sure that Paz carries Kardias in her heart for the rest of her life. “There is no way to thank them.”

Links:

• http://www.kardias.org

Life is a gift. We believe every child born with a heart defect deserves the opportunity of a healthy life in the company of his/her loved ones, free of physical limitations.

Diego is a little boy who was born with trisomy 21, had an Ostium Secundum type defect in the atrial septum, which was corrected on January 20, 2022, by the great medical team that the ABC Hospital with the support of the Kardias Foundation.

Since Diego was born during the Covid 19 crisis his surgery was canceled 3 times for health reasons and he finally had the surgery he needed  in January this year 2022.

Diego´s mother wrote a letter thanking Kardias and the ABC Hospital for the opportunity given to her son. We want to share it with you since it would have been impossible without your help.

“I want to convey my eternal and most sincere gratitude to the ABC Hospital and the Kardias Foundation, for the opportunity they gave my son Diego to have a better quality of life.

It is difficult for me to convey all my gratitude and that of my family to the doctors and nurses who intervened in the operation and in Diego's care in the hospital; social workers, laboratory personnel, etc.

God continue to bless you and wisely guide your laudable and important work that allows you to keep the smiles of the little sick.

Rest assured that every time I see my son smile or hear his heartbeat I will say a prayer for you.

Thank you for allowing Diego's light to stay on.”