From the Heart
Have you ever thought about how a child with asthma feels? It can be terrifying not to be able to get a breath. One of my friends likened it to “an elephant sitting on my chest.” It is unsettling if you do not know when the next episode will trap you.
“Maria loved recess. It was a whirlwind of tag, kickball, and sometimes, just chasing butterflies across the wildflower patch. But sometimes, that whirlwind turned into a storm inside her chest. Her breath would come in wheezing gasps, her chest tightening like a balloon about to burst. That’s when she knew her asthma was acting up.”
“Daniel wasn’t afraid of much, except maybe missing out on recess. Daniel often found himself on the sidelines, chest tight and wheezing like a rusty hinge. Asthma made him feel like a deflated balloon, with all the fun whooshed out.
One day, after a terrifying attack that left him gasping on the couch, his parents explained that the doctor had prescribed a new daily medication, and people he didn’t even know would pay for the medicine. He would have to take the medicine even on good days. A week later, something remarkable happened. Daniel felt a familiar tightness during recess, but this time, it never escalated. He took a deep breath, surprised at the ease of it. He joined his friends, a hesitant smile spreading across his face.”
Compassionate donors to the Philip Hayden Foundation provide daily asthma medication to ten young children. Would you change the life of a child and give medication to other children like Maria who wait?
High Blood Pressure – a Silent Killer
In Merída, our partner, Red de Ciudadanos de Merída, runs a monthly health fair targeting underserved communities. Medical professionals and volunteers staff the fair, offering vital services like vision and blood pressure checks. Medical professionals also provide education on healthy lifestyle changes.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often known as a silent killer, with nearly half of adults with hypertension undiagnosed. The symptoms appear slowly, if at all, but can damage arteries, veins, and kidneys before diagnosis. Sadly, hypertension is undiagnosed until the person experiences a stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure. Heart disease is a leading cause of death for adults in Yucatán.
The health fairs aim to identify undiagnosed health problems in adults and children. Ultimately, it hopes to improve the quality of life for families by providing access to essential healthcare.
Update on Baby Erick
PHF introduced you to baby Erick, his fourteen-year-old mother, and his grandmother last month. Erick was born with a complex heart defect and underwent two surgeries in his first six months of life. Philip Hayden Foundation provided Erick with crucial heart medication following his surgeries. Sadly, Erick passed away in early April. Please keep this very young mother in your thoughts and prayers.
Catarino Needs Your Help
Catarino is twelve years old. He lives with his close-knit multi-generational family (see photo at top) in extreme poverty. Last month, Catarino and his family received devastating news – Catarino has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Our partners, Red de Ciudadanos de Merída, regularly provide supplemental food to the struggling family. The family finds it challenging to get enough food each month; they cannot afford the expensive chemotherapy to save Catarino’s life. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is very treatable and has a high probability of success. Would you help provide life-saving chemotherapy for Catarino? Donate to the medical fund today!