A tiny newborn fighting for her life has sparked an urgent public appeal for solidarity in the Dominican Republic, as just seven days after her birth, Dashley Alahia Calderón Guzmán faces a critical congenital heart condition that requires immediate, costly intervention to survive.
Dashley’s medical diagnosis confirms she was born with a severe congenital heart malformation: her aorta is significantly underdeveloped, meaning the vital artery cannot pump enough oxygenated blood to sustain function across her body’s critical organs. Without prompt open-heart surgery, her prognosis remains grim.
The infant’s desperate family has confirmed that while the country’s National Health Insurance scheme, Senasa, covers a portion of the procedure’s costs, the out-of-pocket expense the family must cover exceeds 3 million Dominican pesos. To date, community contributions have only added up to 60,000 pesos, leaving a massive gap that the low-income family cannot close on their own.
To verify the urgency of their appeal, the family shared complete medical documentation with local national newspaper Hoy, including an official certification confirming Dashley’s diagnosis and the urgent need for surgery. One of these official medical documents was published alongside the original report to confirm the validity of the family’s request.
Currently, Dashley is receiving ongoing stabilizing care at the Center for Advanced Medicine and Telemedicine (Cedimat), one of the country’s leading advanced medical facilities, as the family waits to raise enough funds to schedule the life-saving procedure.
Members of the public who wish to support Dashley’s treatment can make donations to a dedicated Banreservas savings account under number 9605893768. Any members of the public with additional questions can also reach the family directly via phone at (809) 847-5461.