Another Belizean Child to Receive Life-Saving Surgery in Newark

The Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Gift of Life NJ are collaborating again to provide lifesaving surgery for a child from Belize.

Back in June of this year, Nyle Eck, a 2-year-old from Belize, received successful surgery to address supravalvular pulmonary stenosis, a narrowing of the artery located just above the pulmonary valve – the main artery that carries blood to the lungs.

All of the transportation was handled by Gift of Life, NJ and the hosting was covered by Gift of Life, NJ and Rotarians from Rotary District 7475. The life changing cardiac surgery was performed by Dr. Emile Bacha, Chief Congenital Cardiac Surgery and additional care was by Dr. Rajiv Verma,
Director, Children's Heart Center, and the pediatric cardiac team at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Nyle returned home with his mother 4 weeks after his surgery.

There is another child from Belize, 11 year old Brionnie Perez, arriving on September 8th for her surgery. Her condition, sinus venosusatrial septal defect with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections, requires closing a hole in the upper chambers of the heart and reconnecting the anomalous right sided pulmonary veins to the correct chamber on the left side of the heart.

Brionnie and her guardian will be hosted by the Newark Rotary Club from the time they arrive until her surgery on September 16th.
Shortly after arriving, Brionne will begin treatment with the team of pediatric cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at the Newark-based hospital, which is the only pediatric heart surgery center in New Jersey