Hearts with Hope (Corazones Con Esperanza) Foundation was incorporated in 2005. However, its roots go back many years before that — it was the result of many years of volunteer efforts in Latin America.

Hearts with Hope started out as a simple dream. My father was a pediatrician who had been raised in Lima, Peru. He came to the United States for residency in 1960 with every intention of returning home. However, as the time neared for his return, Peru was in political upheaval and a military junta took control. Returning to his home put at risk the dreams he held for his young family, so he remained in the new land. I grew up admiring him greatly. He was a living example of the importance of caring for others. He was grateful and proud of his new home, but taught us the importance of remembering your past. He passed away after a short illness during my internship. He had stood with pride at my graduation the year before; however, he did not get the opportunity to see me complete my training.

I traveled to Peru to search out a connection to him and found myself visiting the Institute of Children’s Health. I was struck by the lack of resources, both financial and material. I was overwhelmed by the eagerness of the Peruvian physicians to learn and the complexity of the patients they were faced with. I was asked to return to Peru to work side by side with the physicians and help develop their program for the treatment of congenital heart disease. The treatment team for our first visit was comprised of three physicians (two pediatric cardiologists and a cardiothoracic surgeon), and the travel was financed through the goodwill of the Peruvian American Medical Society. Ten missions later, Hearts with Hope sent a group of 62 volunteer physicians, nurses, dentists and humanitarian volunteers, including college and medical students, to visit Peru for a three-week period. All missions since the first have been completely funded by donations.