Patricia's family came from the highland of Peru and they trace their ancestors back to both Incan and Spanish lines.  Her mother, a EKG technician at a local hospital had no history of heart disease in her family, but the same was not true of her father.  At birth, Patricia had a heart murmur that would later also be found in her father, a factory worker.  Unlike her father's asymptomatic murmur however, Patricia suffered from a complex, but repairable heart defect. She needed surgery, but her family was unable to pay for the costly procedure.  After eight years of declining health, she finally received the medical care she needed. 

In the Fall of 1992, her physician Dr. Angelica Corvacho of the Instituto Nacional de Salud del Nino discovered Heart to Heart International.  After contacting Dr. Herman A. Taylor, the founder of Heart to Heart, Patricia immediately became a surgical candidate.  Patricia arrived arrived in Birmingham, Alabama in February with her mother and Dr. Corvacho. She was placed under the care of Dr. Ed V. Colvin. 

On the 25th of February, Dr. Al Pacifico performed the necessary operation on Patricia.  She recovered quick and returned to Lima.  She continues to be followed by Dr. Corvacho and is a healthy, happy little girl.