LAWRENCE — A Dominican infant who captured the hearts and prayers of the Merrimack Valley and beyond is now resting and recovering from successful open heart surgery.

Baby Frank Matos Lopez underwent six hours of surgery to repair a congenital heart defect, which prevented adequate oxygen from reaching his tissues and organs. The lack of oxygen created a condition known as blue baby syndrome, which resulted in a bluish tint to the infant's skin.

The 10-month-old boy remains medicated and in an intensive care unit at Boston Children's Hospital, but is expected to be released within the next two weeks, said Louis Farrah, a local attorney and funeral director who helped bring Baby Frank to the United States for treatment.

A medical charity agreed to pay for the infant's surgery and hospital stay. People across Merrimack Valley also donated nearly $8,000.

"His color is getting better and better and his breathing is normal," his mother, Mareanelle Marte, said.

When he's discharged from Children's Hospital, Baby Frank will stay temporarily with his aunt Lillian Marte of Montgomery Street in Lawrence. If needed, he'll undergo postoperative care at Caritas Holy Family Hospital in Methuen before returning home to the Dominican Republic.

"We are all just on cloud nine," said Farrah, who was asked by the infant's relatives to be Frank's godfather. "From everything we've been told, the baby is expected to be fine."

"He needed this surgery and he needed it this week," said Farrah.

Lillian Marte and Frank's mother are now keeping vigil at the hospital. Mareanelle was quite overwhelmed when she first saw her son after surgery, sedated with various tubes and monitors attached to his 17-pound body.

"She was just stunned when she saw him," Farrah said. But once the doctors explained the success of the surgery to her, Mareanelle was both relieved and incredibly grateful, he said.

Mareanelle said she spent much of the surgery in the hospital chapel "praying that everything would go well."

The life-saving surgery Baby Frank needed was not available in the Dominican Republic. A month ago, after Frank's condition continued to deteriorate, here in Lawrence his aunt put out canisters asking people to help bring the baby to the United States.

The child's plight quickly captured Farrah's attention, who, along with his staff, worked tirelessly to bring the baby and his mother here.

After The Eagle-Tribune ran a front-page story about Baby Frank, a Braintree-based medical charity, the Ray Tye Medical Aid Foundation — founded by Haverhill native Ray Tye, agreed to pay for the infant's surgery. The procedure and two-week hospital stay costs about $78,000.

Local residents also donated $7,980 to the cause, with half sent directly to the Rev. Jorge Reyes at St. Mary of the Assumption Church on Haverhill Street.

That money will be used to pay for housing, clothing, transportation and other incidentals for Frank and his mother.

Once Frank is well, he and his mother plan to return to the Dominican Republic, where she works as a television producer. The baby's father, Francisco Lopez, a farmer, was unable to obtain a visa to travel to the United States. Mother and son arrived here just a week ago. Before surgery, Baby Frank was baptized in a special ceremony at St. Mary's.

"Everything has just happened so fast," Mareanelle said. "I just want to thank everyone for everything."