Santiago child dies while awaiting heart transplant

Noah José Tapia, an eight-year-old boy suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy, passed away this Tuesday at the Hospital Infantil Regional Universitario Dr. Arturo Grullón in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Noah had been hospitalized for 51 days while awaiting a heart transplant. His condition had reached a critical state, with his cardiac function dropping to approximately 15%. Medical staff noted that his heart was failing, and he had become dependent on medications to maintain stability. Additionally, he had developed complications in his right lung, including a pleural effusion.

Before his death, his family had made public appeals to authorities and the population, specifically requesting intervention from President Luis Abinader and First Lady Raquel Arbaje. They had sought assistance to facilitate a transfer to a specialized medical center abroad to secure the necessary transplant.