An everyday scenario in Rio de Janeiro is a very poor (often young) couple of little or no means visits a public hospital with their sickly child and is told to wait or is told that the hospital does not have the resources needed to treat the child. If the baby dies in the waiting room the parents are told that this was God’s will. Dr. Rosa is emphatic that these children be saved and that these parents are spared the unnecessary sorrow of losing a child because they could not pay for the medical treatment that is available to families of means. Lack of bed space is also something that is a significant problem. A hospital will call Dr. Rosa and say there is a baby here that will die if it does not get immediate attention. The problem for Dr. Rosa then becomes if she is to do the surgery and return the child back to that hospital will the hospital be capable of keeping that baby free of infection and oversee proper follow up care in Dr. Rosa’s absence. The current hospital that donates their facility has very limited bed space to offer these charity patients. Parents are often sent shuttling between hospitals begging for the life of their child- before they find Dr. Rosa. Dr. Rosa estimates that 40% of her time is spent in private practice and 60% towards the project. She spends many evenings attending
events that will mean that she can get her story out in order to continually raise funds. She credits much of her success to the generosity of friends and wealthy business people who come to her aid when she is in a difficult position. If she cannot find a hospital bed she will later hear that the baby has died. This is why she insists that no child is turned away.

In 2007 a major push for the Dreams Can Be Foundation will be to assist Dr. Rosa Celia Barbosa in her goal of building a children’s hospital for the poor children of Rio de Janeiro and nearby environs. The hospital will have both a for profit and non-profit side in order for Dr. Rosa to continue serving the needy children and families that she currently serves through Pro Crianca Cardiaca Foundation; at the ProCrianca Clinic and where surgeries are now performed through the generosity of a nearby private hospital. The plan for ‘Hospital da Crianca” is a first class hospital to attend to the paying public and that will help generate funds in order to support the charitable side of the hospital.

If you are interested in being a part of this very rewarding opportunity to save the lives of these innocent children and would like to know more about how you can help, please contact Christine Clauser by e-mail contact@dreamscanbe.org or by phone at 814-255-4379 or in Brazil (55)21-2249-5772 for more information.