We were lucky to catch up with Belen Blanton recently and have shared our conversation below.
Belen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?
We provide cardiac care to children in my home country, Venezuela. A mother reached out to us because her son, an eight-year-old boy who loves baseball, was suffering from tachycardia and had a congenital heart defect called Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome. Due to the health crisis in Venezuela, the necessary procedure was unavailable in the public sector.
Our foundation launched a campaign to fund his intervention. Thanks to our efforts, he received the needed treatment. A year later, he returned to playing baseball and now proudly belongs to the Venezuela Baseball Junior League.
Belen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Belen Altuve, and I come from Venezuela, a country where congenital heart conditions were virtually unheard of back in the 1960s. My diagnosis was Tricuspid Atresia, a challenging condition that could have ended differently if not for the determination of my parents and a cardiologist who had just returned from Houston, Texas, working alongside Doctor Denton Cooley to save my life. Against all odds, I navigated through childhood and adolescence with unwavering support from my family.
As I entered adulthood, new challenges arose. In Venezuela, surgeries like Fontan and Glenn were unavailable, and the shunt placed when I was six months old was the only option. Moving to America provided me with a normal life, but as the realities of my condition set in, I developed Eisenmenger Syndrome. By then, surgery was no longer an option, leaving only the possibility of a lung and heart transplant, for which I unfortunately didn’t qualify.
Rather than surrender to despair, I found strength in educating myself about congenital heart diseases. This journey led me to become an active member of the Adult Congenital Heart Association, expanding my empathy for others facing similar challenges.
Driven by a desire to advocate and raise awareness worldwide, I founded Fundacion Estrellita de Belen (Little Star of Bethlehem), focused on providing cardiac care to children with CHD in Venezuela. Our foundation is a member of Global Arch (Global Alliance for Rheumatic and CHD), advocating for CHD patients at prestigious events like the World Congress of Cardiology and at the United Nations. Additionally, I became a board member for Global Arch.
Despite life’s challenges, I believe my purpose is clear: to create awareness, advocate for others, and save lives within the CHD community.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My story began with a significant setback when I was advised to have a heart and lung transplantation at one of Florida’s top hospitals. The extensive tests, catheterization procedures, and transplant preparation classes must have been grueling, both physically and emotionally. Facing the reality that I did not qualify for the transplant due to other compromised organs and a high mortality risk was undoubtedly a devastating blow. The months of crying and feeling like my life was over are understandable responses to such overwhelming news.
However, My decision to seek a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic marked a pivotal moment. Even though the prognosis remained the same, the Mayo Clinic’s comprehensive treatment and care rekindled a spark of hope within me This renewed sense of purpose led me to create an organization dedicated to helping low-income children with CHD and advocating for awareness and support for this condition.
My transformation from a place of despair to one of hope and action was truly remarkable. Despite the limitations imposed by my condition, I have found happiness and fulfillment in my mission to support others. My work not only provides crucial assistance to children with CHD but also raises awareness about this often-misunderstood condition.
My story is a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of seeking second opinions, and the incredible impact one person can have on their community. My journey inspires others facing similar challenges to find strength within themselves and to continue fighting for their purpose.
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If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
YES!
Many times I think about how different my life would be if I didn’t have this condition, but it’s impossible for me to imagine. My life and its limitations are undoubtedly difficult, yet they have shaped my essence. Helping others with the same condition, sharing all my knowledge and experiences, and demonstrating that it is possible to live a fulfilling life with a different heart is my purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fedbhearts.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estrellitadbelen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EstrellitadeBelenFoundation
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belenblantonaltuve/
- Twitter: @belenfundacion
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcSHbxf9FShsNgR4NWgY29A
Image Credits
Fundacion Estrellita de Belen