Alismendy’s story is not only about his heart surgery, performed on March 6, 2024, at St. Francis Hospital by Dr. Sean Luvchuck, but also about resilience. Due to gang violence in Haiti, he and his mother were unable to return home immediately. Thanks to volunteer Gladys, they stayed safely in New York until June. Alismendy even attended school in Queens, where Haitian teachers welcomed him with open arms.