Burkina Faso, a country affected by jihadist violence and one of the planet’s most forgotten humanitarian crises, faces an alarming situation with more than two million displaced people since 2015. Currently, almost half of the country’s territory is not controlled by the state, which further complicates the lives of its citizens.

In the midst of this crisis, Recover Foundation he has achieved Bringing two women with severe heart diseases to Spain to receive medical treatment. This journey was not easy. Without a Spanish embassy in Burkina Faso, they had to be evacuated to Mali and collect their visas there, thanks to the support of Spanish diplomacy. Moreover, upon their arrival in Spain and despite the efforts of the foundation, they did not receive assistance at Barajas airport, so they missed their first train to Albacete, where they are located at the Quirónsalud Hospital of Albacete, where they have been operated on.

Gladys, 29 years old, He suffered from severe insufficiency in the mitral valve and his The diagnosis was that he had one or two years to live At most. As a salesperson, she had to quit her job due to her illness. She was the first to undergo surgery, and her recovery is slower, although her progress is very favorable. A biological valve has been implanted, which is more economical to maintain, which will allow her to return to work and dramatically improve her quality of life.

Victorine, 19 years old, She is school-aged and the youngest of six siblings. She has been living with rheumatic mitral valve since 2015 and I couldn't even do sports. Now, with a mechanical valve donated by Medtronic, her life will take a radical turn. Her family will be able to afford the medication needed to maintain her, allowing her to lead a normal life. Victorine lives in a rural village an hour from Uagadugú, the capital, and is an orphan fatherless.

In Albacete, volunteers from Fundación Recover such as Concha, Pepe and Alicia accompany both patients and maintain contact with their families. After their hospitalization, they will be accommodated free of charge at the Benéfica Sagrado Corazón de Jesús de Albacete Charitable Institution.

The interventions, carried out by cardiovascular surgeon Gonzalo Aldámiz-Echevarría and his team, which includes Dr. Ramiro Montenegro, have been a success. Marta Marañón, director of Fundación Recover, and Cristina Rodrigo, head of volunteerism, traveled to Albacete to be with them and were able to accompany Victorine in the operating room during the operation. If everything goes well, it is expected that Gladys and Victorine return to Burkina Faso at the end of August. There they will meet a much better life of which they have left.