Medical Mission to the Dominican Republic

In addition to bringing children to the United Sates for medical care, the Worldwide
Children's Foundation of New York helps to sponsor missions to provide care to children in
their home country.

In such a mission, Dr. Samuel Weinstein (a WWCF Board member) led a team of cardiac
specialists from Heart Care International to the Dominican Republic to perform heart surgery
on needy children. Montefiore Medical Center and The Gift of Life Foundation joined the
WWCF to co-sponsor this exciting and rewarding mission.

The following children were among those helped by Dr. Weinstein and his team:

Victoria
Victoria was nine years old and lived in San Cristobal with her parents and two younger
brothers. Victoria grew up with constant respiratory infections, which her pediatrician
thought were due to weak lungs. Finally at six years of age another pediatrician told her
mother that Victoria had a heart defect that needed surgery. Victoria was diagnosed with an
atrial septal defect (hole in her heart). For two years Victoria was not able to attended school
due to her excessive tiredness. On the day of the surgery, Victoria prayed for herself and for
all the children that were having surgery. Victoria’s surgery and recovery went very well and
she was able to leave the hospital within four days. She and her family were very excited
that she would finally be able to go back to school and have a normal life.

Edward
Edward was two years old and lived in Santiago with his mother, his twin brother and his
six year old sister. When Edward was born, he was diagnosed with a ventricular septal
defect (hole in his heart). His mother was desperate to get Edward the care that he needed
and our medical mission answered that need. His surgery and recovery went very well.
Edward loves cars. Whenever he was upset his mother would open the curtains for him to
see the cars in the parking lot and the sight would make him smile. He was able to go home
three days after his surgery.

Gabriela
Gabriela was two years old and lived in Santiago with her parents and two brothers. Shortly
after birth she was diagnosed with Tetrology of Fallot (a complex cluster of cardiac defects
that resulted in a lack of oxygen, making her blue). After the surgery her mother was thrilled
to see her little girl for the first time without blue lips.

Nihanyelli
Nihanyelli was 10 years old and lived in Santiago with her paternal grandmother. Her
mother lived with her new husband and Nihanyelli’s step brother; her father lived with his
new wife and Nihanyelli’s two step sisters. When Nihanyelli was born she was diagnosed
with double outlet right ventricle with pulmonary stenosis. This complex condition limited
the amount of oxygen in Nihanyelli's blood, making her blue. Her grandmother spent eight
years trying to get her the much needed corrective surgery that would allow her to grow up.
After the surgery Nihanyelli looked at herself in the mirror and could not believe how pretty
she looked with pink, rather than blue, lips. Nihanyelli loves to write. She wants to become
a soap opera writer and earn enough money to vacation in Acapulco!

Loren
Loren was 10 years old and lived with her parents. When she was two years old she was
diagnosed with subaortic stenosis (an obstruction under one of her heart valves). As time
passed Loren would get more and more tired and dizzy. Her family started to look
everywhere to have her cured. Like any 10 year old, Loren wanted to run and play, but she
could only stand by and watch her friends. On the day of the surgery, Loren was smiling and
in a good mood. She was not scared because she knew that with the surgery she would be
able to finally run and play like all the other kids. Loren’s surgery and recovery went very
well and she was able to leave the hospital three days after the surgery.

Yahedi
Yahedi was five years old and lived in Monte Plata with her mother and grandmother. When
she was 10 months old she was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect (a hole in her heart).
This was surgically corrected during our mission. Yahedi likes to paint and plans to be a
famous painter when she grows up!

Rigoberto
Rigoberto was 12 years old and lived in Puerto Plata with his parents. He seemed always
tired but no one knew why. When he was 11 years old, Rigoberto's fatigue was explained
when he was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect (a hole in his heart). His surgery and
recovery went very well and he was able to leave the hospital four days after surgery.