The doctors discovered Amy Mariolata when she came to a primary care clinic outside Port au Prince opened by Israeli medics in the wake of Haiti's devastating earthquake in January 2010.

She was suffering from rheumatic heart disease, a condition affecting the heart valves, and had a life expectancy of just two years.

The doctors brought her to Israel and carried out an eight-hour surgery, which is likely to extend her life by at least 20-30 years. The $30,000 operation and transportation costs were covered by Sheba.