A seven-month-old baby from Neuquén is facing a life-or-death battle. He suffers from severe dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease that critically affects his heart’s function, which occupies almost three-quarters of his chest. He urgently needs a heart transplant, and his family has launched a campaign to raise awareness about organ donation.
Felipe Palagani, a seven-month-old baby from Neuquén, is fighting for his life. He has severe dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that severely impacts the functioning of his heart, which occupies almost three-quarters of his chest. The condition has caused Felipe to suffer a cardiac arrest, and he currently depends on an ECMO machine (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) to survive while waiting for a heart transplant.
His parents, Pamela Domínguez and Juan Manuel Palagani, together with their family, have launched the campaign #UnCorazónParaFelipe (A Heart for Felipe) to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
It all began on October 21, when Felipe was admitted to the hospital with a case of bronchiolitis. However, his condition worsened rapidly. An X-ray revealed an enlarged heart pressing against his left lung and a bacterial infection in his lungs. The doctors confirmed that Felipe was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy with severe left ventricular dysfunction, a condition that prevents the heart from pumping blood properly.
After spending 15 days in intensive care in Neuquén, Felipe was transferred to the Italian Hospital in Buenos Aires, where his condition worsened further. Last week, he suffered a cardiac arrest, and doctors had to connect him to an ECMO machine, a device that temporarily replaces the function of the heart and lungs.
Felipe is currently on the national emergency list of INCUCAI, waiting for a compatible donor who can save his life.
Raising Awareness to Save Lives
Amidst this challenging situation, Felipe’s family has found the strength to launch the campaign #UnCorazónParaFelipe, which aims to sensitize society about the importance of organ donation.
“Turning pain into an act of love is our motto. We know that the loss of a loved one is immeasurable, but organ donation can give hope and life to others,” said Pamela, Felipe’s mother. The family also emphasizes the need to inform the public about how organ donation laws work in Argentina and the steps to register as a donor.
The Urgency to Act
Every day counts for Felipe, who urgently needs a heart transplant. The campaign launched by Felipe’s family is a call to action: organ donation can make the difference between life and death for those waiting for a second chance.
“We’ve been spreading the campaign so that any family who doesn’t know whether to donate their child’s organs or not understands the importance of organ donation for both Feli and other kids who are waiting,” said Macarena Rodríguez, the baby’s aunt.
To learn more about the initiative, interested individuals can follow the movement on social media using the hashtag #UnCorazónParaFelipe. This way, they can also find information about how becoming an organ donor can be the first step to saving lives.
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