From August 15–27, the alliance will perform at least 25 highly specialized procedures. The program marks a decade of work in Baja California Sur as Ayuda a Corazón de Niño celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Los Cabos, Baja California Sur.— Behind every medical procedure is a family’s story, and surrounding every child is an extensive network of physicians, organizations, businesses, institutions, and volunteers. With this spirit of collaboration, the 14th Unidos de Corazón Medical Mission has begun in Los Cabos, providing children with congenital heart disease access to highly specialized cardiovascular care.
The medical mission is taking place August 15–27 at Hospiten Cabo San Lucas and is expected to treat at least 25 patients through cardiac catheterization, cardiovascular surgery, and pediatric electrophysiology procedures.
During the official press conference, organizers announced that the program brings together more than 50 physicians, nurses, perfusionists, technicians, and healthcare professionals from institutions across Mexico and abroad, all donating their time and expertise to participate in these life-changing procedures.
The Unidos de Corazón alliance includes Hospiten México, Ayuda a Corazón de Niño A.C., Amigos de los Niños de Cabo San Lucas, Terumo, and Philips, along with companies, foundations, government agencies, and organizations contributing resources, technology, logistics, and support.
A Decade of Transforming Lives in Baja California Sur
During the presentation, Audelia Villarreal Zavala, director of Ayuda a Corazón de Niño A.C., highlighted how the program has expanded access to specialized care for children in Baja California Sur.
Ayuda a Corazón de Niño was founded in Baja California Sur in 2001, at a time when the state faced significant limitations in accessing specialized cardiovascular medicine locally.
Twenty-five years later, the organization has supported more than 5,000 children with congenital heart disease throughout Mexico, providing diagnosis and medical follow-up. Of those, 320 have received highly specialized surgeries and treatments, with a reported 99.6% survival rate.
Over the past decade alone, 250 children in Baja California Sur have received treatment through this model.
The experience developed in Los Cabos also paved the way for the program to expand to other destinations in Mexico, including Puerto Vallarta and Quintana Roo.
25 Patients to Receive Care During This Mission
For the 2026 edition, 25 patients were initially scheduled for treatment, although additional cases may be incorporated depending on medical evaluations.
The program includes 14 cardiac catheterizations, as well as cardiovascular surgeries and electrophysiology procedures. During the press conference, organizers reported that the first catheterization procedures had already been successfully completed, including treatments for babies just 10 months and one year old.
One of the program’s most significant services is pediatric electrophysiology, a highly specialized area that, according to organizers, is not permanently available locally in Baja California Sur through either the public or private healthcare systems.
The mission also requires a complex logistical operation. Specialized medical equipment and technology are transported from different parts of Mexico to prepare operating rooms, cardiac catheterization facilities, and intensive care units, while physicians and volunteers travel to Los Cabos from multiple cities.
Early Detection Can Change a Life
Ayuda a Corazón de Niño’s work extends well beyond its surgical missions. Throughout the year, the organization conducts diagnostic and follow-up campaigns to identify conditions that might otherwise go undetected.
Villarreal shared the example of a recent campaign in La Ribera, where questionnaires distributed among children who appeared to be healthy led to further cardiology evaluations and the detection of three congenital heart conditions.
Among those cases was a 17-year-old girl whose symptoms had previously gone without a clear explanation and who is now expected to receive treatment during this medical mission.
Early detection has also been one of the organization’s major causes at the national level. Ayuda a Corazón de Niño advocated for the inclusion of newborn cardiac screening in Mexico’s General Health Law in 2021. According to figures presented during the event, diagnoses of congenital heart disease in Mexico have since increased by approximately 140%.
Abigail: When Surgery Changes an Entire Family’s Life
One of the most emotional moments of the press conference came with the testimony of Modesta Primitivo García, mother of María Abigail.
A year ago, Abigail entered the program significantly underweight and undersized as a result of her heart condition. Her mother recalled that the little girl even struggled to eat and that, for a long time, the family lived with uncertainty about when she might finally receive the surgery she needed.
After connecting with Ayuda a Corazón de Niño, Abigail was evaluated and, within days, admitted for surgery.
A year later, the scene could not have been more different. As her mother shared their experience, Abigail ran and played around the venue.
For Modesta, the transformation can be seen in activities that might seem ordinary to any other family: her daughter now eats, drinks her milk, plays, and stays active.
Her story put a face to the statistics and served as a reminder that pediatric cardiovascular treatment transforms not only a child’s health, but also the daily life and future of an entire family.
An Alliance Between Medicine and Community
Representatives from state and municipal governments, the DIF social services system, Hospiten, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and private companies participated in the presentation.
Gay Thatcher Herrera, director of Amigos de los Niños de Cabo San Lucas and Los Cabos Community Blood Bank, emphasized that the alliance built over the past 10 years has helped approximately 250 children. She also shared recent progress at the community blood bank, which now has a mobile blood donation unit and apheresis equipment to strengthen the availability of blood components in the destination.
The Los Cabos Municipal DIF System also reaffirmed its participation in the initiative through financial support benefiting children and adolescents who require surgery and treatment for congenital heart disease.
Sol Delgado, honorary president of the Los Cabos Municipal DIF, emphasized the profound impact these procedures have on families by helping relieve the uncertainty and anxiety experienced by parents whose child is facing a cardiovascular condition.
The medical technology industry also plays an essential role. Companies such as Terumo and Philips participate by providing specialized technology and equipment for the procedures, while physicians and healthcare professionals volunteer their expertise.
An Opportunity That Remains Open Year-Round
The medical mission will conclude on August 27, but diagnostic and follow-up services will continue.
Ayuda a Corazón de Niño reminded families that its diagnostic clinic remains open throughout the year for anyone who suspects a child may have a cardiovascular condition or needs specialized guidance.
Twenty-five years after the organization was founded and a decade after this model of care was established in Baja California Sur, the 14th Unidos de Corazón Medical Mission once again demonstrates what can be achieved when civil society, the medical community, the private sector, and government work together.
Behind the statistics are stories like Abigail’s—children who, after receiving specialized medical care, are able to run, play, grow, and look toward the future with a stronger heart.
