Daniela has two beautiful children, both born with congenital heart defects. Their symptoms are treatable through surgery, but for her family living on a modest income, the care they needed was beyond their means.

Both the Chagas disease scenario and the cardiac health field have greatly evolved since our Pacemaker Program began over 20 years ago. Dr. Marta Vakulenko of Los Angeles, USA, and Dr. Paola Rodriguez of Cochabamba, Bolivia, represent a new generation of surgeons who will continue to build our bridge to care for cardiac rhythm patients into the coming decades.

A first of its kind diagnostic campaign screened more than 60 children for congenital heart diseases in the city of Tarija.

Despite the postponement of surgeries, our program remained active during these long months. Social workers maintained contact with patients and in July, our pacemaker control clinics re-opened to provide regular monitoring.

Nothing symbolizes Valentine’s Day quite like a heart; so today we would like to share with you some heartwarming stories of our pediatric heart patients.

A recent collaborative effort provided life-saving heart procedures for 23 pediatric patients at the beginning of September.

The humble crosses in a Bolivian cemetery inspired the start of our Pacemaker Program. Where Chagas Disease wreaks devestation, we strive to bring hope.

While saving one life, each pacemaker we implant can heal and empower an entire family. Patients in 2017 included mothers and fathers with families who depend on them, and even children themselves. Meet some of the families who received this restorative care through our Pacemaker Program in 2017.

A healthy heartbeat is something that pacemaker patients like Patricia can never take for granted. Once patients receive an implant through Solidarity Bridge, we commit to their permanent, lifetime follow-up care.

“Helping a Heart to Beat,” a surgical campaign made possible by the coordinated effort of five distinct organizations, took place April 17-19 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. A true example of solidarity, the campaign served 12 children with congenital heart defects through a high-tech procedure using cardiac catheterization.

In 2016, US missioner Dr. Joseph Wu, an electrophysiologist from UCLA Medical Center, traveled to Santa Cruz to work alongside our Bolivian partners at San Juan de Dios Hospital. The trip helped to integrate St. Jude Medical, a new corporate donor, into our Pacemaker Program. Dr. Wu accompanied staff on home visits with patients and their families. Here are a few of their stories.

In the clinic at Punata, adult cardiologist, Dr. Mark Ottolin, and pediatrician, Dr. Monica Joseph, worked together to assess a young boy with a congenital heart defect.