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Our vision is to live in a world where every child has a mighty heart

by
January 28, 2022

I’m Belen Blanton, President of Estrellita de Belen Foundation. I was born with a congenital heart defect called tricuspid atresia causing me to now suffer from Eisenmenger Syndrome. 

I now dedicate my life to fight for children with congenital heart defects in my country of Venezuela. The situation in my country has more than 4,000 children born annually with congenital heart defects. Eighty percent of these kids require surgery before their first birthday.

Of the 2,000 children currently awaiting surgery, many will die before receiving care. Our foundation provides the resources to aid the families through appointment scheduling, medical supplies, and nutritional supplements, and even necessary procedures to repair their little hearts.

Our vision is to live in a world where every child has a mighty heart.

We work with parents, caregivers, and local volunteers to meet the immediate needs of our little heart warriors. We are committed to the best possible care by identifying the most competent local medical professionals in the region. We are continually growing our support network to reach all areas of Venezuela. 

Please visit us at https://fundacionestrellitadebelen.org

Belen Blanton

Nahimeh Jaffar 

Nahimeh Jaffar has worked as a certified Project Manager (PMP) in various fields, including Public Health, Biotech, and Pharmaceuticals, working within clinical settings such as hospitals and clinics. In addition, she worked with global communities in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, supporting various social impact projects. Ms. Jaffar has been involved in preventive health initiatives in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control (CDC, USA) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS, USA).

 

Ms. Jaffar holds an MBA in Business Development from the Swiss Institute of Higher Management, Vevey, Switzerland, and a bachelor’s degree in Consumer Affairs from California State University, Northridge, USA.

Amy Verstappen, President

Amy Verstappen has been a patient advocate and health educator since 1996, when her own challenges living with a complex heart defect led her to the Adult Congenital Heart Association, where she served as president from 2001 to 2013. She has served as an advisor to the Centers for Disease Control the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; and the International Society for Adult Congenital Cardiac Disease, and worked with congenital heart patient and professional groups throughout the USA and the world.  Ms. Verstappen received a Masters in Education in 1990 and a Masters in Global Health in 2019.