Victor is a 9-year-old boy from El Salvador, and just like other boys his age, he has a very active and very happy personality. He lives with his mom, Veronica, and his two sisters. His father passed away when Victor was just a baby so to support the family, his mother and older sister sell paper flowers in the streets.
Life has not been easy for the family; every day is a battle to make ends meet. There are days when the earnings are not enough; food is scarce, and more often than not, they go hungry.
The day we met Victor’s mom, she had not eaten anything the entire day.
The family situation became even harder after Victor was born. He was diagnosed with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. He was only a newborn when he had his first surgery, and after repeated treatments, Victor suffered from a narrowing of his airway.
Victor manages a sleepy smile after surgery.
Victor’s life was never going to be the same; he was constantly tired and could not run or play like other boys. Victor felt like he was always gasping for air, and sports became an unreachable dream. At school, he suffered from bullying and discrimination. One his saddest moments was when his teacher started calling him «the caterpillar» because she thought he was always slow. However, none of these problems stopped him from being the sweet, kind boy that he is.
Today a new life begins for Victor and his family… He’s had a Laryngotracheal Reconstruction, and for the first time in years, he can breathe again.
