Lucas Francesco Murillo García, the young boy whose public appeal to Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella for a heart transplant drew national attention, is now receiving specialized care after being flown from Cúcuta to Bucaramanga, a city in northeastern Colombia. The transfer took place this past Monday aboard an air ambulance operated by the Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, a leading cardiac care institution.
According to Víctor Castillo, the foundation’s president and the physician overseeing Lucas’s case, the boy arrived in generally stable condition but was running a fever of nearly 39 degrees Celsius (about 102°F). Castillo told local media that Lucas appeared notably cyanotic — meaning his skin had a bluish tint from insufficient oxygen — and was clinically decompensated at the time of admission.
Before doctors can move forward with a cardiac catheterization and the additional testing needed to map out next steps, medical staff must first bring an active infection under control. Lucas was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious congenital defect in which the left side of the heart fails to develop properly, severely limiting its ability to pump blood.
His case has captured widespread public sympathy after he personally appealed to the president for help. Doctors continue monitoring his condition closely as they weigh treatment options.
To read the full original report from El Tiempo, follow the link.
Source: El estado de salud de Lucas Murillo, el niño que pidió un trasplante de corazón al presidente De La Espriella (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: liber(the poet);, BY-SA 2.0 (via Openverse).