Venezuela Heart Nonprofit: Estrellita de Belen Foundation

Why would someone born with a heart defect in Venezuela who has moved to the USA care about children born with heart defects in her country today? How can one woman make a difference in the lives of children living in a dictatorship? What is the most important thing Belen Blanton has learned since she started her international nonprofit organization?

Belen Blanton was born with tricuspid atresia in Caracas, Venezuela back in 1965. When she was born, many doctors told her mom that she was not going to make it. Fortunately, her mother took her to a cardiologist that had contact with Houston Children's hospital in Texas, where she had surgery, a Potts Shunt procedure performed by Dr. Denton Cooley.  

From age 15 she began to experience complications including arrhythmia. When she was 21 she moved to the US and from age 30 experienced atrial fibrillation, endocarditis, Eisenmenger Syndrome, and pulmonary hypertension. She is married with two sons and has recently started a charity to help those living in her home country of Venezuela. She believes her life has been a gift and she has felt a need to give back to others in her country by creating a nonprofit organization called ‘Estrellita de Belen Foundation.’

 Links mentioned during the episode:

Belen's "Heart to Heart with Anna" episode: 'Heart Warrior from Venezuela to the USA'

Belen Blanton's foundation
Fundacion Estrellita de Bele

Belen's IG page, 'You Don't Have to Look Sick' 

Adult Congenital Heart Association 

Hearts Unite the Globe

Global ARCH

Conquering CHD

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