Gift of Life International identified that Juan Carlos needed care when we conducted a screening visit to San Pedro Sula, Honduras in November 2019. In January 2020, he was accepted for care at New Orleans Children’s Hospital thanks to the sponsorship of our affiliate HeartGift. Due to the Pandemic and restrictions on travel, he has not been able to travel until yesterday. Juan will receive his surgery following 2 weeks of quarantine in New Orleans.
Juan Carlos is being treated in memory of Horacio Poveda, who advocated for Gift of Life International to conduct the screening visit and focus on the needs of the children in Northern Honduras. Juan’s surgery is sponsored by Heartgift and Historic Jackson Heights.
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.
