If this woman has been in the DR for 10 years, can she just pop back to her home country and get heart surgery? If it were my mother mother and IF I was assured her health care would be covered in her home country I would be getting a second mortgage on my house,- not asking for donations! Also,- I would be more comfortable with the situation if it was not her family that was receiving the money directly,-------
Generally, if a foreign national is facing a life threatening medical situation in a foreign country, the embassy of that country (I should say USA as I don't know of others) will provide assistance to get that person to medical care whether it be local or flying home and then seek reimbursement