As we come to the close of a very successful week of healing hearts in El Salvador, we celebrate the lives of 24 children who now no longer live in fear of episodes of tachycardia and can move on to realize their hopes and dreams.
We are grateful to our partners and the incredible medical team, Dr. Kevin Shannon (Electrophysiologist), Dr. Claire Newlon (Electrophysiologist), Dr. Tiffany Williams (Anesthesiologist), Dr. Heather Shannon (Pediatrician), Rich Nagel (EP Technician) and Diane Lynne Reynolds (EP Nurse). Without all of you, this incredible week of healing hearts and restoring hope would not have been possible. We thank you for your dedication to the Salvadoran children in need.
Gift of Life International is using the donations we receive to change the lives of these children.
We could not have saved any of these children without the help of our global network of partners, including Fundación Latidos de Esperanza, Regalo de Vida El Salvador, and HeartGiftFoundation.
Pictured above are the five patients who were treated today.
Dr. Shannon and his team have created smiles and provided hope to 24 children during this visit.
Thank you to our partners and our incredible healthcare volunteers for their hard work and dedication this week!
Our sincere thanks to this very dedicated and highly-specialized group of healthcare professionals who did not stop until all the children in need this week were treated.
Here’s to countless more visits, to the joyful laughter of children echoing in homes and playgrounds, and to a world where every heart pulsates with resilience and freedom.
Join us in commemorating this journey of love, recovery, and optimism.
Brenda Small is the Operations Consultant at Gift of Life International. She assumed this role in 2012.
Brenda was inspired to help children in need with heart disease after her third child was born with a complex heart defect and underwent successful open-heart surgery in her first year of life. Brenda learned of Gift of Life International in 2006 at which time she established Gift of Life Los Angeles where she holds the position of President. Between 2008 and 2012, Brenda volunteered her time to help with Gift of Life International in addition to running Gift of Life Los Angeles.
From 2012 to 2022, Brenda held the position of Director of Operations for Gift of Life International. Today, she continues this lifesaving work as Operations Consultant. Brenda also implemented the Nutritional Program in El Salvador in 2008 which has now provided nutritional support to more than 250 children and their families. Brenda has traveled with many of the Gift of Life training teams and witnessed these precious lives being saved.
