A new life: a new smile for Valeria II

A couple of days ago I shared with you the story of Valeria, the little girl who is waiting for a new heart to live, to smile again. I asked for help and was overwhelmed by the incredible response. People from many countries started to collaborate in many different ways, donating, spreading the word and giving support to the family. It was beautiful to seeing how people can get together, taking a minute in their lives to think about someone else. Besides, it gave me hope in this critical situation. I feel full of energy to continue looking for help.

Now I have good news for you, ESSALUD the health institution that gives health care to Peruvian employees contacted Valeria´s family to let them know that they are going to cover the heart transplant surgery. So right know their only need is to raise money for the transportation to the US in an air ambulance, post surgery medicines and other expenses calculated around $200,000. This is much more manageable than the huge price tag that was needed before. Of this amount the family has reported raising $70 000 from donations made through COTA, various bank accounts set up to assist and different activities ( collections, parties, soccer tournaments, etc).

I would like to thank everyone who has helped Valeria’s cause in any way and hope that you will help us finish this task. There are still some expenses to cover but it is wonderful to know that she is going to have a new heart, a new smile and a new life .

My special thanks to all friends in Twitter to helping me with this challenge through your mentions, efforts and thoughts. We are working right now on this: Of special note and thanks goes to @KitMcConnell who has agreed to to match any NEW Twitter donation made before Friday midnight up to $5000. The donor page is HERE. Please let me know if you make your donation so we can keep track.
I will continue to update everyone about the progress of this effort to help this little girl.

Please find a moment to continue helping us in your own way to make Valeria´s little girl full fill of smiles. Our thoughts and prayers are with Valeria and her family as well as all those in need.

Update: Got word late last night that Valeria is on her way to Minnesota . Awesome News!!

A new life : a new smile for Valeria

Sometimes the world seems filled with so many problems some big like the issues our friends in Japan are facing and some small that we encounter every day as we live our lives. I am writing today about one of these problems that is bigger than is possible for any one person to handle alone and therefore I am sharing it with you through this blog post.

Valeria Vasquez is the young daughter of two young physicians I know in Lima Peru. She is very sick and needs a heart transplant to live because she is suffering from dilated caryomyopathy. There is hope, Dr Rebecca Amendari from University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital (@UofMChildrens on Twitter) has accepted her for advanced heart failure treatment and evaluation for a transplant.

However, this procedure is very expensive as follows:
Physician & Anesthesia $ 85,000.00
Out-Patient Pharmacy $ 10,500.00
Home Health Care $ 5,000.00
Home Infusion Services $ 15,000.00
Hospital facility fee $520,000.00

I am not even sure what the “Hospital facility fee” includes but that is the deal. Many are working working to raise this amount to give Valeria a new life and smile.

A Facebook page has been started currently with 23,200 members and both a Spanish (#salvemosavalita)and English (#HVal) twitter hash tag have started. Valeria’s aunt has started a contest on a blog and the television and newspapers have begun to cover it in Lima.

However, I fear it is not enough and time is running out. Now we have a challenge - and I ask for your help. Please let your Facebook and Twitter networks know about this effort. Only together will it ever be possible to raise this amount of money.

If you are able please be a part of this miracle and help us give Valeria a new life filled with huge smiles.

So please ACT now and make your contribution to this effort HERE
I have and I hope you will be able to as well.

Thank you so much for taking a moment to review this important effort. My thoughts and prayers are with Valeria and I know her parents will greatly appreciate any help you might provide.

Phabiola Herrera, MD.

Peruvian TV Report (Spanish)
Part I


Part II


Following are other ways people are helping:

Please if you know of any aid agencies email bvasquezb@hotmail.com

Accounts in Peru:

Interbank (on behalf of Bruno Vásquez de Bracamonte)
288-3038206265 (in Soles).
288-3038206299 (in US Dollars).

For international transfers you must state the Swift code: BINPPEPL
Banco Internacional del Peru - Interbank

Accounts in Canada
TD Canada Trust Bank: 4028-6441416 (in CAD)

Account in US
Bank of America: 004614076264
ZIP: 0000, ABA: 026009593.