tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55777081898690792152024-03-11T01:58:05.686-04:00Team HeartJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14001983538721348589noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-58550980473544042632020-08-04T09:05:00.001-04:002020-08-04T09:06:05.087-04:00Announcing Team Heart Pumping Heart Challenge! <span id="docs-internal-guid-9bf9a984-7fff-c2e9-f179-8a7008f15c4d"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Team Heart Pumping Heart Challenge</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like everyone, Team Heart faces challenges and a new reality due to COVID. In light of these obstacles, we remain committed to our mission and work in Rwanda. Our team is dedicated and works hard to bring awareness and address the burden of rheumatic heart disease. Each year with your help, we travel to provide direct care to save the lives of young teens, screen for disease and strengthen the health care system in Rwanda.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today we are launching our first annual </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Team Heart Pumping Heart Challenge,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a virtual event taking place September 22-29 encouraging individuals to run, walk, cycle, swim, hike - do what it takes to pump your heart while raising funds to support Team Heart. In the weeks leading up to the event, we will illustrate the benefits that exercise brings to heart health, spotlight Team Heart Heroes and showcase how dollars raised directly impact our organization. The Challenge culminates with World Heart Day at the end of September.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rheumatic heart disease (RHD),</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a condition that develops when strep throat is left untreated. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Across the globe, RHD takes the lives of 233,000 people every year. That is 638 preventable deaths per day. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In a country of 12.3 million, it’s estimated that 30,000 Rwandans have rheumatic heart disease. Each year, nearly three dozen Team Heart volunteers - including cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, pharmacists, nurses and perfusionists - travel to Rwanda to perform screenings, heart operations and workshops with local Rwandan medical staff.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We invite you to join our team today to help us with our goal to raise $30,000 and help fight rheumatic heart disease and bring sustainable cardiac care to Rwanda. Register for the Pumping Heart Challenge at </span><a href="https://teamheart.org/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teamheart.org </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and start fundraising now. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Registered participants receive a T-shirt, activity on our Team fundraising page and have the chance to win special Pumping Heart Challenge prizes including an Adrien Niyonshuti Cycling Academy Jersey from the Rwandan Cycling team, an organic spa gift set, from Silver Moon Shoppe, American Express gift card, as well as a custom bakery package from Boston-based The Cake Patch Bakery, who ships across the US.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every dollar raised is used towards patient care, accessible cardiac care, education and awareness, and advocacy and poverty reduction initiatives. For example:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">$160 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will fund an emergency package including rent, medication and food for 3 months for one patient;</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">$250</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">publish 100 coloring books for prevention and education;</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">$350</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> will pay for the follow-up, medication, and testing for one patient for one year;</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">$500</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> will fund the "Support for Congenital Heart and Patient Network" for one year</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get ready to pump your heart the week of September 22</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– 29 in honor of World Heart Day and to save lives in Rwanda. Register today!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are one TEAM!</span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7cHkTEw5EYwb-LWn2KWZuNlXfVbMcMWIC0x8CX_HSvFkAzwOiUaXlA6IaK-ukk5wtkpkjnD7nCtbw2yc0lpDrwhoAASuUutLmtwGwAowHuwI0cOAzNBj8vSCGS4pJEvWf_vIp6cdSzI/s1500/TH-Pumping+Heart+ChallengeFinal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7cHkTEw5EYwb-LWn2KWZuNlXfVbMcMWIC0x8CX_HSvFkAzwOiUaXlA6IaK-ukk5wtkpkjnD7nCtbw2yc0lpDrwhoAASuUutLmtwGwAowHuwI0cOAzNBj8vSCGS4pJEvWf_vIp6cdSzI/s640/TH-Pumping+Heart+ChallengeFinal.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-31412920972740828272020-08-02T16:51:00.000-04:002020-08-02T16:51:41.063-04:00Celebrating A Birthday From Across the World! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Mary Louise Parker, Team Heart Ambassador for Prevention of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) celebrates her birthday today in New York City with good wishes from the team and some very special people from Rwanda. Across the miles, TH patients sang Happy Birthday in thanks for the awareness to increase knowledge of the risk of RHD and the importance of heart health. Photographed here with 2019 patient, Louise as they celebrated in February 2020, one year anniversary following Louise's life-saving cardiac surgery. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5gDeYbFxOMWcYSQv-FIcVtfkrGCeN84OOH8osTgDPo-_36F_TmqwHzCVdIUA3P7AMxAr6l4wL5AnnqdUmX4MgJcZjdaM_yyJyk9Vz62jXRdk_HdTVJOk-kYRLvGHQgQvpZlDbwhzqsA/s892/MLP%2526Ceeya.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5gDeYbFxOMWcYSQv-FIcVtfkrGCeN84OOH8osTgDPo-_36F_TmqwHzCVdIUA3P7AMxAr6l4wL5AnnqdUmX4MgJcZjdaM_yyJyk9Vz62jXRdk_HdTVJOk-kYRLvGHQgQvpZlDbwhzqsA/s640/MLP%2526Ceeya.JPG" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-41776963153509739332017-03-07T23:19:00.001-05:002017-05-22T12:29:52.111-04:00Collaboration :)Team Heart is as much about saving lives as it is teaching our Rwandan counterparts how to care for a post op heart surgery patient. In our 10 years of surgical missions we have been fortunate enough to collaborate and work with some of the best Rwandan nurses and physicians. Looking forward to many more year of teamwork and seeing our goal of establishing the first cardiac care center in Rwanda! Team Heart is made up of medical and nursing volunteers from 12 U.S. states and 5 countries, representing over 15 different hospitals.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvhWiIDr8WxpEBlNgFFNPsjDavUy0ZAfLLzrFtvWn-Zj3FYl2-QyPBPJHq4ytWifS5tavXEqhJ0CrWOIYoCKTblam5OrSEGkz42N55ZZ2zfOKxIaYCqniUssUkSSIGNaV1UGaW_Okl-Y/s1600/17098353_10210614136862280_8314182282203754354_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvhWiIDr8WxpEBlNgFFNPsjDavUy0ZAfLLzrFtvWn-Zj3FYl2-QyPBPJHq4ytWifS5tavXEqhJ0CrWOIYoCKTblam5OrSEGkz42N55ZZ2zfOKxIaYCqniUssUkSSIGNaV1UGaW_Okl-Y/s320/17098353_10210614136862280_8314182282203754354_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8S7IiThwjc88kGIirFa9mxTDbrqtQDgFCrNO8WlWxCPh9B7w9IiJm8ACRSa9XrH6Iw_ANPe50nOUySyN-Qp3Y-crxSlrYixYjjqNqdOfu2aSACm574JqfzKJrZO9TmIW-pkjxBZQHrM/s1600/17098358_10210614125822004_8757588486895752696_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8S7IiThwjc88kGIirFa9mxTDbrqtQDgFCrNO8WlWxCPh9B7w9IiJm8ACRSa9XrH6Iw_ANPe50nOUySyN-Qp3Y-crxSlrYixYjjqNqdOfu2aSACm574JqfzKJrZO9TmIW-pkjxBZQHrM/s320/17098358_10210614125822004_8757588486895752696_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RJwk-ogNW97YIBkbm5DLhLR-CpZ7izgZh_ISg11HCuktWIfdUvuxDUXqc_ky5lFpRS_j_lbyJ34urxC71nkRZiEWNIPvPeb1sfvWtEqr45qjACJ5jRlUcLxMGhNjTiLc49UnYn5T5Uo/s1600/17190537_10210614124381968_8838937466835201877_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RJwk-ogNW97YIBkbm5DLhLR-CpZ7izgZh_ISg11HCuktWIfdUvuxDUXqc_ky5lFpRS_j_lbyJ34urxC71nkRZiEWNIPvPeb1sfvWtEqr45qjACJ5jRlUcLxMGhNjTiLc49UnYn5T5Uo/s320/17190537_10210614124381968_8838937466835201877_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Team Heart Pharmacy</td></tr>
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217726441299218390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-15580654670474353172017-03-07T23:10:00.002-05:002017-03-07T23:10:43.772-05:00Visits from Former Team Heart PatientsOne of the best things about returning to Kigali, Rwanda year after year, is to see our former patients. After they have had surgery, it is remarkable how strong and healthy these young adults become. They are not only physically bigger and healthier, but they have been able to return to school and to work for the first time in years!<br />
Here are some pictures of our some of former patients....ranging from 1 to 6 years post op!<br />
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217726441299218390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-6044824785127716292017-03-07T22:54:00.001-05:002017-03-07T22:54:24.351-05:0016 Surgeries Completed!<div style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;">
Greetings Friends! </div>
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<br />Long time no update. Apologies for the hiatus. Things have been moving along here in Kigali, with the 15th and 16th surgeries being performed today. We are halfway through the day and the 15th case just came out of the OR. </div>
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This patient is different from all our other patients because he was an atrial septal defect repair - meaning there was a hole in his heart between the left and right atrium - where the blood goes first before it is pumped into the ventricles. The atrium collects the blood and pass it to the ventricles, the ventricles are the chambers that pump the blood out to the lungs and the rest of the body. </div>
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Atrial septal defects or ASD's are usually congenital and are the third most common type of congenital heart defects. When there is a defect in the atrial septum several problems can occur. When the defect is large, the problems can be life threatening. </div>
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Our patient had a very large ASD and the concern is that normally blood does not cross between the atrium - so that it must pass through the lungs before entering the left side of the heart and being delivered to the body. In a patient with an ASD - some blood from the left atrium passes through the hole back into the right atrium and as a result there is more blood in the right side of the heart than there should be. Over time, the right side of the heart and the arteries in the lungs have to work harder to accommodate this extra blood. The muscles that make up the walls of arteries in the lungs bulk up from all this working out and because they are stronger, there is more resistance to the blood flow causing what is called pulmonary hypertension. Because of this increased resistance, the blood chooses the path of least resistance and starts flowing directly through the hole in the atrial septum and into the left side of the heart without going through the lungs first. This means blood that has not been oxygenated by the lungs is now circulating through the entire body. This causes the obvious challenge of not having enough oxygen. </div>
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There are a few other problems caused by an ASD and that is why we needed to fix this one today. Dr. Bolman and Dr. Swain (up and coming fellow at UPENN in cardiothoracic surgery) repaired our patient's ASD today. They used bovine (yep, from a cow) pericardium in the shape of an elliptical about 4x5cm. </div>
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This case was special not just because it was the only ASD repaired or because it was the last day of surgery, but also because Dr. Bolman and his daughter got to scrub in together and her husband got to wear scrubs and watch with me from the anesthesia pod. Pictures of all involved are below as well as some pictures of the bovine pericardium and the incision made in the atrium. We tried to capture the ASD, but didn't get it on camera - it was pretty amazing though, just so you know! </div>
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Well, that is all folks. I will try to do at least one more update tomorrow. I am working night shift tonight so I am sure I will have at least one good story to report. </div>
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Until then… Urabaho!</div>
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~Bridget C. and all of us here with Team Heart</div>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217726441299218390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-63713403969488326552017-03-02T23:33:00.003-05:002017-03-02T23:33:49.140-05:00Updates from the Step-down Ward<br />
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Good evening! </div>
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<br />It's been a beautiful day in Kigali. Our patients were perking up like flowers in the sunlight after yesterday's rainy weather. Three of our six post-op patients have transitioned from the Intensive Care Unit to the Step Down unit with pacing wires and chest tubes being taken out. They are returning not just back to baseline, but doing even better than they were before surgery now that they have their new valves.</div>
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So what does all this mean? Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Step Down? Well, that is one of the things as a medical student and up and coming resident I am learning. Determining how far along a patient is in their recovery and if they are ready for less invasive monitoring is one of the most important aspects of post-operative care. I have had the opportunity to discuss care in the ICU with the intensivists as well as surgical residents and learn about ventilator settings, the type of medications, and monitoring patients are on while in the ICU. And today I had the opportunity to talk to Sue Ellen, the nurse in charge of the Step Down unit to discuss the difference between ICU and Step Down and the different goals for transition out of each. </div>
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The goal of the ICU is immediate recovery after surgery. This includes recovery from the effects of anesthesia, intensive monitoring for life threatening complications of surgery such as bleeding or stroke, and removal of lines and wires that are placed on them for surgery. Once we have monitored their vital signs, blood pressure, breathing, heart rhythm on an EKG, and made sure there is no bleeding in their chest, monitored by output from a tube that is placed in their chest at the end of surgery, and the patient appears to be doing well, they are transferred to the Step Down Unit.</div>
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The goals of the step down unit are to optimize the patient's condition and prepare them to go home. A challenge unique to the work we do in Rwanda is that they do not have the accessibility of visiting nurses and medical care that we have in the United States. Therefore, before patients leave we must make sure they have the education and resources to get the medications and follow-up care that is needed after surgery.</div>
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While the patient is in the step down unit, we make sure they are getting up and moving around, doing deep breathing to prevent complications in their lungs, their pain is well-controlled, and that any fluid built up around their heart as a result of their damaged valves is starting to come off. We can tell the fluid is decreasing with chest x-rays, listening to their lungs, and tracking their body weight.</div>
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Once the patients start to feel better the goal is to educate them on what they need to know for post-surgical care, about the Warfarin medication they will be on, and making sure they are connected to a local physician who will be able to monitor and manage them. To educate the patients we have local nurses who translate and work with the patients and we have videos in Kinyarwanda - the language of Rwanda.</div>
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When a patient does not do well after surgery it is not usually a direct effect of the surgery, it is a result of lack of follow-up care. We must make sure they will have access to the medications we discharge them home on, that they are available in the country and that they are inexpensive enough the patients can afford them.</div>
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<br />Educating the patients is essential for them to be able to advocate for themselves once our team has left. For the same reason, it is important to educate the patients' families as well as the local nursing staff - together they can all advocate for the patient to ensure strong follow-up care. </div>
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Our first patient Emmanuel is doing extremely well. Today, one of our nurses in training, Sam, began speaking with Emmanuel about possible barriers to his follow-up care so we can figure out ways around potential obstacles that may arise in terms of patient education, finances, transportation, etc. Sam and Emmanuel are pictured below having this discussion. Emmanuel gave a big smile when Sam asked him if he would mind me taking his picture for the blog post today. I am so happy to see him smiling and feeling well again. </div>
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I will post more as the week goes on and we see our patients in the step down unit walking around, talking, watching videos, sitting outside and starting to feel even better than they did before their surgery. </div>
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Have a great day everyone! Until the next post… </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patient Emmanuel receiving post op teaching</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Bruce Leavitt with one of our patients and his father</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteer Judy Sgantas with one of our patients and her family</td></tr>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217726441299218390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-73396097174603318222017-03-01T23:39:00.004-05:002017-03-01T23:39:40.316-05:00Sunrise:)Is there anything better after a busy night shift than seeing the sunrise.....YES...Actually being able to be outside for that sunrise!!!! King Faisal Hospital, the hospital we work at in Kigali is designed so that all of the hallways are outside. It is amazing to be able to get a little fresh air during your shift....but can get interesting (and slippery) during those afternoon thunderstorms.<br />
Here are some pictures of the hospital, our (now very busy and full) ICU, as well as that sunrise view from the hallway in between the ICU and Step-down ward.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise, Thursday, March 2nd, 2017</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise, Thursday, March 2nd, 2017</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Faisal Hospital</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQqJ1yQ7jpycJEJTbGjUPah38IYiD-YGUZEIaJQzxaEX5Y8L66mG7W4VER5DsjK4RTsemNamDO0ZV-ZgIPw8NDXcRCh0aenyzyxHbiJXURYDJBBQT4bbVS_SLTkCQmtUzAH0gOk3BfZw/s1600/17022066_10155064793022920_8548791981453979053_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQqJ1yQ7jpycJEJTbGjUPah38IYiD-YGUZEIaJQzxaEX5Y8L66mG7W4VER5DsjK4RTsemNamDO0ZV-ZgIPw8NDXcRCh0aenyzyxHbiJXURYDJBBQT4bbVS_SLTkCQmtUzAH0gOk3BfZw/s320/17022066_10155064793022920_8548791981453979053_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing collaboration</td></tr>
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217726441299218390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-83459407216115388152017-03-01T23:12:00.001-05:002017-03-01T23:41:33.715-05:00First Patients out of ICU and Scenes from the Countryside<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-4ZM-Rflv_NgwZON2Ey8D1KUjmGqJJtx7lXw0_tbvqo64wZkesfujW3Gc-h0igr7tW4WsuhYswutGOV_b6NBI4pUtQzqna11tAyP6NLtMqRwSJjDzAqZLKnJ76UhDupoAq8nyhDQnJM/s1600/16938473_10155064760242920_6263601206966943080_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-4ZM-Rflv_NgwZON2Ey8D1KUjmGqJJtx7lXw0_tbvqo64wZkesfujW3Gc-h0igr7tW4WsuhYswutGOV_b6NBI4pUtQzqna11tAyP6NLtMqRwSJjDzAqZLKnJ76UhDupoAq8nyhDQnJM/s320/16938473_10155064760242920_6263601206966943080_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmanuel, our first patient, WALKING into the Step-down Ward</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">Today is Wednesday and our first patient, Emmanuel transferred out of ICU. He is a 37yo farmer. Our second patient, Israel transferred over later in the day as well. He is only 11yo. Both patients, had single valve replacement surgery on Monday and are doing fantastic, transferring out of ICU on post of day 2!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">Several Team Heart nurses took a trip out of the city today with Abraham. Abraham is a local shop owner and jewelry designer who has been a friend of Team Heart since 2009. Abraham brought the nurses to a co-op where many of the traditional Rwandan baskets are made by local women. It was quite the experience, to see the grass drying and the women weaving it into the beautiful baskets we all take home as gifts. The areas outside of downtown Kigali, are lush and stunning. It is always nice to enjoy the beauty of Rwanda on days off from the hospital. With four patients in ICU and now two in the Step-down Ward, we are just getting started...keep following along for more updates and pictures :)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rwanda: the land of a thousand hills</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpkKWcBeqpMoOsE5tRVuvm6wGLgPz8XXUpnVyIjtIh5KDUNVIiq2U_6yg-hEjflDVnOOAzc5msM2f161Y3CyyoSpkGZt7z90rPLKOFWCaaR1WBNrVnggV3A3_3NbB6P9mIQkYG0uiutI/s1600/17021688_10155031198122891_8995759155061037679_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpkKWcBeqpMoOsE5tRVuvm6wGLgPz8XXUpnVyIjtIh5KDUNVIiq2U_6yg-hEjflDVnOOAzc5msM2f161Y3CyyoSpkGZt7z90rPLKOFWCaaR1WBNrVnggV3A3_3NbB6P9mIQkYG0uiutI/s320/17021688_10155031198122891_8995759155061037679_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitching a ride uphill :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadL2AdyYS0mD2vDWoKoNmQmvNLM97oh1kRp05EeL5sf-WZSA9bnVViDstEK34sB1VSJqD61y1e7vKOYK9lDWU7TWkud0g-eJRY6_Oi9CXyyqY2NwjJ5kvimXOdUjR1lUfyDc0MaRLmcs/s1600/17103585_10155031198352891_4366630242788991332_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadL2AdyYS0mD2vDWoKoNmQmvNLM97oh1kRp05EeL5sf-WZSA9bnVViDstEK34sB1VSJqD61y1e7vKOYK9lDWU7TWkud0g-eJRY6_Oi9CXyyqY2NwjJ5kvimXOdUjR1lUfyDc0MaRLmcs/s320/17103585_10155031198352891_4366630242788991332_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women taking a break from basketweaving</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkdUG0bq1B2qZ4WHrX9KL3k6AubcTGUEUODiDG2aZ_8a_gqNmLwheFts5aKKkcQJVz5Hu7KvrAc0sikX54zG2VqfjC1Z6lwBfKFRfAm5TgNB-PeERCu1LR4fg_I2h3pAMTmGr6cj-XS8/s1600/17022300_10154256554385913_6397543914663497458_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkdUG0bq1B2qZ4WHrX9KL3k6AubcTGUEUODiDG2aZ_8a_gqNmLwheFts5aKKkcQJVz5Hu7KvrAc0sikX54zG2VqfjC1Z6lwBfKFRfAm5TgNB-PeERCu1LR4fg_I2h3pAMTmGr6cj-XS8/s320/17022300_10154256554385913_6397543914663497458_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stepdown Ward ready for patients</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGgOXceiaHWrvOTq4PmUODAO_9v0gd-DKY5cBkN0qLHvIDwdPXY8h3v2wXqe-vHj5HXujy5yD9jEnWz6s8jR2S0AGoURuyf2kzu3VyW_zK9HUOXhi_yoSkpzIeyfgQmFlWcvHcCfeMNs/s1600/16998931_10154256554255913_3038661710509846818_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGgOXceiaHWrvOTq4PmUODAO_9v0gd-DKY5cBkN0qLHvIDwdPXY8h3v2wXqe-vHj5HXujy5yD9jEnWz6s8jR2S0AGoURuyf2kzu3VyW_zK9HUOXhi_yoSkpzIeyfgQmFlWcvHcCfeMNs/s320/16998931_10154256554255913_3038661710509846818_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first Step-down Ward Patient</td></tr>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217726441299218390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-57173564083885421972017-03-01T22:50:00.001-05:002017-03-01T23:25:47.584-05:00First Day of Surgery 2017!!<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">The First Day of Surgery!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Greetings Friends and Family of Team Heart! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">My name is Bridget Colgan, I am a fourth year medical student from
University of Vermont, and have been blessed with this amazing opportunity to
volunteer with Team Heart for their 10th medical mission trip to Kigali,
Rwanda. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Briefly about myself, I will be graduating from medical school May
21 and starting my general surgery residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in
Honolulu, Hawaii on June 1. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">How did I wind up in Kigali, Rwanda? Well, that story goes back a
long time… when I was born… Just kidding. I will start when I met Dr. Bolman,
Ceeya, and Dr. Leavitt during my third year of medical school. I have had a
strong interest in cardiothoracic surgery and medical mission work for many
years and during my third year of medical school when I first heard about Team
Heart, I instantly knew I wanted to be a part of it. I will be forever grateful
to Dr. Leavitt for telling me to talk to Dr. Bolman and Dr. Bolman for telling
me to talk to Ceeya, and Ceeya for accepting me along as a volunteer for the
trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Ceeya emphasized the value of being actively involved in the team
to maximize my experience and I know without a doubt how right she was. I was
able to help with inventory prior to the trip, receiving all the emails of
supplies for perfusion, pharmacy, the supplies that were still in Kigali from
last year and those that needed to be shipped - and I did my best to input them
into FileMaker, the software we used to keep the inventory records. It was not
until last Sunday, February 19, that I was able to actually put a visual to the
weeks and months of emails regarding the inventory. To see all the supplies
stacked up filling the closet of the Team Heart house wall to wall was very
exciting - the trip was here! The 16 life-saving surgeries that required all
these supplies would soon be happening! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">The past week I have had the amazing opportunity to be a part of
the screening team. We travelled to multiple sites in Kigali. The day before I
got here, February 18, the team took a trip a couple hours away to visit
Ruhengeri Hospital. While I was here from Monday, February 20 through Thursday,
February 23 we went to three other sites: Kanombe, which is the Military
Hospital, and Chuk, which serves as the city hospital of Kigali<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>also called Shiaska, as well as King Faisal,
which is where we are currently doing the operations. Screening week was
surreal. We saw so many patients, not just with rheumatic heart disease, but
congenital heart defects, including corrected transposition of the great vessels
and an ostium primum atrial septal defect, cardiac tumors, and many other
diseases and pathologies. It was extremely challenging to not be able to help
all the patients we saw, but the team did our best to collect the data we could
on each patient and advise the local cardiologists on recommendations for
further treatment, even for those we are not able to operate on and treat
during this trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">The screening meeting took place yesterday afternoon, February 26,
at 1pm at King Faisal Hospital in the outpatient building. You can see pictures
of the meeting below. We selected 16 patients and 5 alternates for surgeries.
The selection was not without the challenge of wanting to be able to help
everyone but being limited by time, resources, and disease burden. If the
patients are too sick to tolerate surgery, it is a difficult but necessary
decision to recognize our limitations as surgeons and medical professionals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">After finalizing the OR schedule for the week, we went out as a
Team to Heaven, a local restaurant and favorite place of Team Heart where we
were able to talk and reflect on the many life experiences that brought us
together to serve in this amazing way. I had the privilege of sitting next to
Dr. Bolman and Ceeya and hearing not only the story of how they met, but also
the story of how Team Heart came into being. I am so amazed by their heart for
service, their vision, and their ability to realize their vision in such an
amazing way. They dream with their feet - putting their visions and hopes into
action. They have inspired me not only as a future surgeon, but in the type of
person I hope to become. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Dr. Bolman was going to read a quote last night at dinner from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Thousand Hills to Heaven</i> by Josh Ruxin
the owner of Heaven restaurant. He wound up not reading it, but he shared it
with me and I wanted to share it with all of you because I think it sums up
beautifully why we are all here on this trip:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">"You cannot leave Africa and then expect to be satisfied by
ordinary living. You will have to continue doing extraordinary things, because
you know what can be done in the world, and you know what you are capable of
doing, and you know that, wherever you go, many lives will depend on your
willingness to exercise your privileges and skills on their behalf." </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Today was the first day of surgeries - we had two single valve
cases, one aortic valve and one mitral valve. Both cases went well and the
patients are in the ICU now recovering. It was an exciting day for the patients
and the team as everyone moved into their professional roles and worked
together to make the day a successful one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">We all had breakfast in the morning and headed over to the
hospital to get started. Zander, the UVM resident who is here with us, and I
ran to the lab to make sure blood was available for the first patient - started
the day off right with a yes! And the first surgery stayed on schedule. After
checking into the OR to see how things were getting started, someone had
brought in a coloring book, markers, a Dr. Seuss book, and play-dough for our
second patient and I had a bunch of stickers to give each of our patients. I
felt this sounded like a medical student task, so I brought it all up to our
second patient and found him getting a lecture for eating a banana by the
anesthesiologist because he was not allowed to eat before surgery. The nurse
and the patient's sister were bargaining with the anesthesiologist to be able to
give him some apple juice. I was happy to be able to distract our patient from
wanting to eat with some coloring. It was color by number and he loved it - did
an amazing job. While we were sitting there, the team walked in on morning
rounds and he, being a little ham, soaked up the attention from his audience.
His sister loves when we take pictures of him and she adopted my phone for a
few minutes today to take some pictures herself and I taught her how to take a
selfie - she was so enthused. It was overall a great morning and the day
continued to go well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">We got the OR schedule finalized with a few changes and
distributed to everyone. We got the patients for tomorrow all set up. And then
I got the chance to scrub into the second case, which I was so grateful for the
unexpected opportunity to be in a case on the first day. It was really awesome
to be able to see a mechanical mitral valve replacement. I was able to actually
see the old valve, how damaged it was, its removal and the process of the new
mechanical valve being put in. Dr. Bolman had a camera attached to his headlamp
so all the people in the room had the opportunity to see the operation on a
small monitor in the OR. The cardiology fellows also had the opportunity to
watch along with the anesthesiologists. It was a great case for everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Tomorrow will be another full day and I know we are all looking
forward to it as we are in the swing of things now. Dr. Oakes will be doing a
mitral valve replacement in the morning, followed by Dr. Bolman doing a double
mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve annuloplastly in the afternoon. I
will write more soon! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">We are so grateful for all your support in this endeavor, we
couldn't do it without you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Urabaho!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">From Bridget and the rest of Team Heart <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIqLkiAtVBKcuVy3gVKgWMj9ifGPJqfpaIpkKwXJx-JWk5ux2-5aNI9HLRxvh7mx7xYSDwXniiKuxL819wYiCj0YrOW1eJpEB_JKx9FLvuZzxv71GWbmZFex2jqJaIyZYi8whlGxqeTA/s1600/IMG_2259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIqLkiAtVBKcuVy3gVKgWMj9ifGPJqfpaIpkKwXJx-JWk5ux2-5aNI9HLRxvh7mx7xYSDwXniiKuxL819wYiCj0YrOW1eJpEB_JKx9FLvuZzxv71GWbmZFex2jqJaIyZYi8whlGxqeTA/s320/IMG_2259.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second case: an 11yo boy, single valve replacement</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217726441299218390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-72431190990333075982017-02-04T08:21:00.002-05:002017-02-04T08:21:10.854-05:0014 Days to Go! Screening Team prepares to travel!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgym_GcWGnD8eFTimFZ4nS5jzrM-LTibTuA62KeTA3FMyEj3TwVjxNV2MxWU8ulaJDW7f_RQY-mJfsdIW3FXr5IyGgkzOc5t9xIN-3o4vwGnf3Hh1OBOe8OczVhVn6b2cvZ0GPlyHmMu24/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-02-04+at+7.56.55+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgym_GcWGnD8eFTimFZ4nS5jzrM-LTibTuA62KeTA3FMyEj3TwVjxNV2MxWU8ulaJDW7f_RQY-mJfsdIW3FXr5IyGgkzOc5t9xIN-3o4vwGnf3Hh1OBOe8OczVhVn6b2cvZ0GPlyHmMu24/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-02-04+at+7.56.55+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
In two weeks, the screening team begins their work! Nurse Practitioner Julie Carragher, from Braintree MA has coordinated screening now in her 5th year. Working closely with RBC (Rwanda Biomedical Center--the care delivery arm for the Ministry of Health, Julie has arranged for the first screening to be in Musanze, which is always one of our largest screening sites. We have been there multiple times, know the staff under leadership of CEO, Dr. Pascal and always look forward to this part of the trip.<br />
<br />
The drive out of Kigali will begin to climb immediately, and as the team leaves in the yet dark morning, the road becomes alive with farmers going to market early. This drive is one of the most beautiful in Rwanda. But is 2.5-3 hours and as we drive, patients are lining up. The patients will have left home hours before to walk, take a mini-bus or a moto-to see the team. Many do not feel comfortable to speak English and our Rwanda team will be there to translate. Cardiologists, Dr. Jeanne De Cara, Evanston, IL and Dr. Patricia Come, Boston are both well-recognized heart failure cardiologists in the US. Both have traveled for more than 7 years with our team--and there is NOTHING they will not have seen before. Fierce advocates for their patients, they would like to see help for all we see (more about the Cardiac Center Rwanda needs in future posts) ....The team has other key members--our sonographers need a post of their own; meet them here next week!<br />
<br />
More than 400 beds, Ruhengeri Hospital serves more than 350,000 in the catchment area. Now with an ophthalmology clinic since 2015 and transitioning to a referral center, it is always busy. Musanze is a district and is home to the famed volcanoes; five of the eight Virunga Volcano Chain lie with its boundaries. Ruhengeri, now most often called Musanze is the principal city and the hospital lies on the main road near the police Academy. The area is fertile and always green and is center of agriculture and tourism. Because the surrounding mountains which are beautiful beyond belief, they are high and damp. It is a perfect environment for strep throat in overcrowded homes with small children. Without easy access to health care centers, strep throat might be undiagnosed and untreated and progress to rheumatic disease and to rheumatic heart disease. This area is where many of our patients come from.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQTiG4Ff5WSs9Smp2NOyWuhXflKFYmAzhnGUEeK5xKPl7uffy2eiv1TDrbG__LlkAl8Bmk5DuZegAy2kyZnLC3hQRRuQw-XMgazB8sU0AeOcD-b4MDPxpcXktlgaFkkQQmjGQMTUWebY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-02-04+at+7.15.01+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQTiG4Ff5WSs9Smp2NOyWuhXflKFYmAzhnGUEeK5xKPl7uffy2eiv1TDrbG__LlkAl8Bmk5DuZegAy2kyZnLC3hQRRuQw-XMgazB8sU0AeOcD-b4MDPxpcXktlgaFkkQQmjGQMTUWebY/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-02-04+at+7.15.01+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nP2mebxSQbjMs0rQcw8rcOIxY0elwD3_icJhHHNIfrXJ6xAFMX2EN06JhFkwQXeU8aPgVUbviJYW_uHFzN24f2xH57Vhf9SHbHs88bF8bl0ua_C8XMo8GQaZBBGuk8MpiwTj-So0Vcs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-02-04+at+7.15.56+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nP2mebxSQbjMs0rQcw8rcOIxY0elwD3_icJhHHNIfrXJ6xAFMX2EN06JhFkwQXeU8aPgVUbviJYW_uHFzN24f2xH57Vhf9SHbHs88bF8bl0ua_C8XMo8GQaZBBGuk8MpiwTj-So0Vcs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-02-04+at+7.15.56+AM.png" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvvUIEUBUKHcA08PYqT6eTNmv_Cz_1QvYr9d1nkjARH0M6Z0-CLnMTQtS4rcJIXFTUqx-41msnfg_jhAnFq7hmiN0yNWwbZtg8OsbqUE9hI8FlI1-YswX1J2N-2W2ZLJY_cREAiON4YY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-02-04+at+7.41.01+AM.png" /> Meanwhile, our Rwanda counterparts are busy as well. Most of these patients will have been ill for years, even though the average age is 18, and range from 12-32 years. They will have worked their way through the health care system to see a cardiologist and that could take months. Each patient has been followed and selected by 1 of the 2.5 cardiologists in the public sector which serve the 12 million population. The RBC will be making certain dental clearance, screening for infectious diseases and required paperwork has been done. The cardiologists will have discussed surgery and asked for their commitment to following advice of medical care post-operatively. It is the one chance they will have. We cannot do it without your help.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-80922616844553411062017-02-02T13:41:00.001-05:002017-02-02T13:41:58.506-05:00Vermont Welcome to 2017 Team Heart-Karen Lucas<div class="MsoNormal">
A warm thank you to Bruce and Anne Leavitt for opening their home on Tuesday 1/31 for a great kick-off dinner for Team Heart's 2017 trip to Rwanda. It was a wonderful evening<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> filled with many stories of past trips to Kigali for this life-saving mission and much advice to those of us who have not been yet. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am ecstatic to be going and to be a part of this amazing group of dedicated medical professionals! As someone who got into the medical field later in life, this opportunity to help others is a dream come true and to be going with Team Heart is even more amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had heard about the trip for a few years and knew now was the time to go for it. After connecting with Ceeya last spring, the pieces started to fall into place. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have heard the phrase "life changing" so many times in association with Team Heart and Rwanda and I don't doubt for a minute that it will be true for me as well!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank you again to the Leavitt's for hosting a lovely event and to everyone who is making this trip a reality for so many patients and their families. A special thanks as well to Judy Sgantas for the great picture! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Karen Lucas, UVM</div>
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Team Heart Stepdown, 2017</div>
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There have been many special moments, but one in recent days admittedly without compare: a joyful reunion with a former patient. As word spreads that we are back at King Faisal, there comes a steady stream of healthy, smiling Rwandans - former patients - returning for follow-up but bringing with them so much more. </div>
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To see these patients, once so thin and compromised, now so vital, ready with robust hugs and grateful greetings - what a gift. And what they are making with their lives - a teacher here, a medical student there, and another student, this one in procurement - they carry with them the inspiration of their new lease on life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On Thursday a quiet young lady arrived. Donatha from 2015! Our last patient on the last day. We would have liked to have her scheduled in the beginning, because of her extreme wasting due to the rheumatic heart disease, but an error in pre-admission lab testing disqualified her initially. The screening team worked to get her retested and she was accepted to be our last procedure of the trip. She never would have survived to travel to India or until another team arrived. She required hospitalization for 9 weeks, but now is healthy and back in school to make up lost ground. We are all so happy....the stories such as this are incredible. #wecanonlydo16. #shemadeourday</div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-36871317992325408312016-03-03T04:50:00.002-05:002017-02-02T13:44:36.636-05:00First patient to Step-down on Wednesday<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It's great being back at King Faisal Hospital for the 9th year, preparing for a great trip with Team Heart and sixteen life-saving surgeries. As we prepare the step-down unit for opening, we reflect on the previous patients that have followed this path and are doing so well. It's exciting to see a group of enthusiastic and passionate professionals come together for such a worthy cause.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Today we had our first step down ICU patient! Although we had some speed bumps on our road to recovery, she triumphed and pushed through. With her strength and support from Team Heart, she was able to be disconnected from her IV drips, chest tubes were removed, and she was eating full meals! She was applauded by the King Faisal and Team Heart Staff as she exited the ICU. She has such a strong spirit, that she walked about 22 feet to her bed--AMAZING!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">She continues to inspire us as she ambulates (or walks) multiple times and wows us with her beauty and her smile. She was very ill before surgery and this photo makes her appear like she is almost well! It is very misleading to the patients as they have a hard time convincing family they must take it easy during recovery for 8 weeks before returning to farm. She is the mother of twins, a boy and a girl now almost 2 1/2. She, like so many young women with RHD was diagnosed in pregnancy. She is the patient we love to do. A strong will to live and to return to her family. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">She has given her permission to use her photograph. </span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-65394683956592379582016-02-23T14:40:00.003-05:002016-02-23T14:40:29.963-05:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>NP Julie in action...</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I traveled to visit Redempta's family in her village near Kamonyi, located to the south of Kigali. Our Team Heart patient and registered nurse Theo and his Uncle </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> accompanied me. It was an incredibly beautiful drive. The mountains and valleys so green. We arrived and were immediately greeted by Demi's youngest brother Cosi and her Mama. Her Mama looked wonderful, she was dressed in a traditional Rwandan dress with a matching head scarf. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">We entered Demi's home and were met by her Papa, who was wearing a purple Braintree Youth soccer shirt (either my son Nolan's or Andrew's from a past year, sisters Laetitia, Rebecca and brother David. All looked very well, smiling and happy! We had a wonderful visit. Papa asked to speak and with Theo as an interpreter, welcomed us to their home and went on to say how happy they were to see me and how appreciative that I was caring for Demi. Papa continued by saying it was tradition to give me something to express their joy. Pap went outside and came back into the room with a chicken! The chicken was placed in my lap and my arms placed around him to hold him in my lap. If only someone from Team Heart could have seen me!! I was trying to hold on so tight, his legs were moving, his body was rested up against my left cheek. I don't know how I managed to keep a hold of him...there are plenty of photos to share that I am certain will make you chuckle. However it was not a laughing matter for Papa. This was serious, almost ceremonial feel. I explained that I was unable to keep the chicken, despite my pure happiness and gratitude, as I was staying in the hotel and working long hours at the hospitals. I asked that he keep and take care of for me. He was happy to do so. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Certainly a first for me! Julie Carragher<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOAvLfFmm18xxWIUasHQBw43HALcYYz0dTkTzMt-MnTl-DyUSpgr_t2kglHSvEVYVxXylzGzRB5Rp4jhuQLGoalHsLpgLkDw2PiOlc5AU3Hgrjtz_cDcuPef8aaCwlymREehKGqahIss/s1600/image2.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOAvLfFmm18xxWIUasHQBw43HALcYYz0dTkTzMt-MnTl-DyUSpgr_t2kglHSvEVYVxXylzGzRB5Rp4jhuQLGoalHsLpgLkDw2PiOlc5AU3Hgrjtz_cDcuPef8aaCwlymREehKGqahIss/s400/image2.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGBZBBzJfuAgF2zPCsfMa1Uw3Ye3o-BiKqNEVz4fZuneY7b8ZjAOl2FFULj06c70TP5Mv-ZjC-UJbQI0ArYBLhYHeKGFOKrtzbvYIlz-y2t6w845y82cbqYGD-ZwR5x1f3iuPjgtb5Oc/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGBZBBzJfuAgF2zPCsfMa1Uw3Ye3o-BiKqNEVz4fZuneY7b8ZjAOl2FFULj06c70TP5Mv-ZjC-UJbQI0ArYBLhYHeKGFOKrtzbvYIlz-y2t6w845y82cbqYGD-ZwR5x1f3iuPjgtb5Oc/s400/image1.jpeg" /></a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-83680321803691341412016-02-21T19:16:00.001-05:002016-02-23T14:27:44.985-05:00<div class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;">
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<span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">You cannot help but </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">be amazed</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> by these volunteers</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">…their expertise, love of teachi</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">ng and true compassion brings one</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> to quick tears. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">It is always so emotional when you arrive, have jet lag and are reminded why you are here. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">The screening teams advo</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">cacy for the vulnerable </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">population,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> those </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">patients </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">so ill they would not survive a trip to India</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> if they could pay for it,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> propels the team into action…</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">it is this point </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">they can advocate for </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">the majority and not</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> the reality of having to select a number to fit into 16 slots for the operating room</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">. Come a week from </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Sunday, </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">in a classroom </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">with Bo</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">bby,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> Chip, Danny and Martin and Rwanda colleagues </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">joining them to select—reality sets in…16 slots.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">I joined the </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">screening </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">team at Rwanda Military Hospital for a few hours to watch them in action. We were pleased to have </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">our advocate </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Dr. Evariste </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Nganda</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> from RBC </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">th</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">ere, because it helps the RBC to see the faces we see</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">, the disease that is there. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Dr. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Evariste</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> is</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> a</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">quick study</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> and</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> spritely moves through the room to sidestep being roped into a cardiology tutorial 101 as teaching is everywhere. I</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">f he is not careful Dr. Come will b</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">e including him in her teaching session all about venous</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> filling and how to interpret in the face of RHD</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">. </span><br />
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<span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Being in the same room with her energy is </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">infectious,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> as everyone loves cardiology in her hands. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Rwanda Military Hospital is one of the the best-organized hospitals we screen in which cares for public sector</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> in the country. Although it is designated a military hospital, it is </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">viewed as </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">a key public hospital for the civilian population. I</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">t seem like a good place to work for civilians as well and I am sure having more of </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">what you need when you need it </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">is </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">a big </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">part of that, and the</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">r</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">e is job security for good performance. We work with Dr. Jean Vianney Ganza, a</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> cardiologist out of Universi</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">ty of Rwanda Medical School who </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">trained in Cardiolo</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">gy in Belgium. His team is very welcoming and provides great space for our screening.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> Dr. Ganza has been our closest ally here and we see how the referral population is changing for him. There </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">are</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> few patients referred by him that do not meet the strict screening criteria that Julie C., </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">NP and her screening </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">team set forth. </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">We enjoy and admire all the cardiologist. There are 4!! Yes 4 fo</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">r this country of 12.5 million </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">and maybe 2-3 </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">in training</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> in South Africa or Brussels. They each bring their expert</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">ise </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">and are fierce advocates for their patients…</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">J</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">ust today we saw the impact of this</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> advocacy</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">. Dr. Emmanuel our Pediatric Public sector </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">cardiologist, who</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">is much</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> loved</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> and admired by all of our </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Team</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">brought a scrawny </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">young man</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> for consideration in Screening 2014. The young </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">14 year-</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">old lived </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">with his two older brothers who took wonderful care of him, bu</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">t felt hopeless for his future. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">He had been turned down by other teams and Dr. Emmanuel felt if he just had a chance…one chance, he might have a future. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">He was the last patient selected </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">at the selection meeting and for those of us there, </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> the discussions were intense. He was sick very sick, malnourished due to the heart disease beyond imagination and he had this wonderful smile and was so trusting.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">His </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">rheumatic </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">heart disease had ravaged his body and the best efforts to provide nutrition by his bothers was not evident as </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">his body wasted. I am sure the</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> call to the brothers was a happy one for Dr. Emmanuel</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> to say he had been selected for a chance to have surgery. Dr. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Emmanuel stopped </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">by every few days to check on him..a second visit to the OR for tamponade gave the ICU team</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> and surgeon Chip</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> a scare but was handled so competently we could have been in any major cardiac center—we did have the best nurses</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">, surgical, anesthesia</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> and ICU teams. </span><br />
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<span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Young Mr. Gratien </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">visited us today and just could not understand the tears as cardiologist, sonographers looked at him with so much pride. He looks so normal! Now in primary 4 he is making up for lost time. His brother was pleased at his </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">school </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">performance and his attention to his health</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">maintenance.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> I predict good things for this bright young man…..</span><br />
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<span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.6px;">He is photographed here he is with Dr. Jeanne who screened him in 2014. We normally get Cardiologist Jeanie Decara for 2 weeks, but this year she must leave before surgery begins. Full of compassion and expertise, she certainly can feel good about giving back when she sees the outcome of this young man. He would have not survived 6 more months. </span></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14001983538721348589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-35255863623353946462015-03-10T02:33:00.002-04:002015-03-13T16:58:06.483-04:00The Starfish Theory From Louise King, MD<span style="background-color: white;">
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Dr. Louise King and her husband, Dr. Caleb are Missionaries in Ruhengeri....they post a weekly blog which we have followed for a few years... Louise has diagnosed and followed many of our patients. </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://thekingsatshyira.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/a-starfish/" style="color: #2585b2; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">A Starfish</a></span></span></h2>
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;">by <a href="https://thekingsatshyira.wordpress.com/author/thekingsatshyira/" style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136) !important;" target="_blank">thekingfamilyinRwanda</a></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;">My father likes to tell the story of a 2 men on the beach, where there were thousands upon thousands of washed up starfish on the sand. One man was throwing starfish back, one by one. The other man, seeing the multitude of starfish still out of the water, said “Why are you doing that? It doesn’t make any difference?” to which the man who was throwing the starfish replied, as he threw another back in the ocean, “It made a difference to that one.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;">Here’s my latest starfish: Angelique.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">Angelique is 18 years old with very bad heart failure from leaky valves, from rheumatic heart disease that she probably contracted as a child. She herself has a small baby and until last week, she was unable to walk across the room without getting short of breath, and she desperately needed a valve replacement. She was evaluated 2 weeks ago by Team Heart, an awesome group of nurses, echo techs, cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons from Boston, who come every year to operate on people like Angelique. I had the gut sense that this time next year, Angelique wouldn’t be around for a second chance; this was it, so I was really praying for her. The cardiology teams have a tough time choosing patients-there are so many sick heart patients. The patients have to be sick enough to need surgery but not too sick that they won’t survive the operation. There was initially some concern that Angelique had an underlying infection, but it cleared up and she was operated on and received not one, but two, artificial valves. I was thankful that God gave me the wisdom to have her come in a couple of days early to get “tuned up” before the cardiology team came. And I am very thankful for Team Heart</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">And we are thankful to Dr. King. Angelique has returned home and we feel better knowing she will be watched carefully over the next few critical months of recovery. !</span></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-21115075972701797382015-03-08T00:22:00.000-05:002015-03-13T16:58:22.525-04:00A Note from Andy! Kigali Reads<div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Note: Andy is a 5 year veteran corporate volunteer from St. Jude Medical, based in Minnesota and long time supporter of our vision to provide care in Rwanda. Not only does he carry boxes and wash surgical instruments-- which is very different from his shirt and tie daily existence, but from the very first he developed our relationship with Gisimba orphanage. Although Gisimba is different in number and ages of occupants now (with the country's increased emphasis in foster homes), the needs are huge as funding has decreased. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Andy writes, "I want to first of all say I had an amazing time in Rwanda this year and I enjoyed seeing old TH friends and meeting some new ones. I also want to thank you all for welcoming Drew into the TH family with such open arms! Drew had the time of his life and he referred to the trip to a local reporter as "a profoundly life-changing experience". </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Lastly, I wanted to thank you for your generosity in supporting the Gisimba Orphanage and our newest partner, the Kigali Reading Center. We raised over $2,500 which was used to buy food and medical supplies for the orphanage and to help support the KRC to buy books, bookshelves and other needed supplies for the children. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I am including some pictures to show you the kind of difference that TH makes, in addition to the incredible life-saving work done at KFH". </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">1.food supplies for Gismba</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">2.the reading room gets some fun new books and is an after school enrichment program</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> 3. A Banner announcing the partnership of Kigali Reads and Team Heart--and the first delivery of 700 books!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mcoPQA-udsyVoiyFKkoLkHdYaNn94V2Els08HB9DGGD2PJwYmbhGhbAPY1d0nWfNOH_Vb7Ft5dOQ5BQCREdO6jhwbpXbNgjSzFlqkldYyzz7BSTRLkk2bCeBVlogr1Gx8JjNdHZHRyg/s1600/image+(4).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mcoPQA-udsyVoiyFKkoLkHdYaNn94V2Els08HB9DGGD2PJwYmbhGhbAPY1d0nWfNOH_Vb7Ft5dOQ5BQCREdO6jhwbpXbNgjSzFlqkldYyzz7BSTRLkk2bCeBVlogr1Gx8JjNdHZHRyg/s1600/image+(4).jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> 4. The first aid room was empty! Now well stocked with bandages, Neosporin, disinfectants and Tylenol needed for another year until we return!</span></span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-91902620667246304802015-03-07T03:22:00.002-05:002015-03-13T16:58:45.725-04:00Patient Reunion-Hugs all Around<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Our patients looked so healthy and many of them were happy to reconnect with their care providers from Team Heart! Over 80 patients joined us and we hosted 120 people for lunch including the patients and their families. Our guest speaker for the event was John Bosco, Rwanda's 2014 Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He has a biodiesel start-up company that converts trash into fuel and gave a very inspirational talk. It was followed by a presentation by Fabrice to discuss dental health as part of heart health and HHNW Patient Evariste, nearing completion Masters degree in Project Management. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> Our patients also were given the opportunity to have follow up echocardiograms at King Faisal Hospital. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAThMkKh820gA4xkn_WKoglYx662EtR2hJtcitJTDsBfyvoueSB6OD6aCi4iPnsjqyjtFVjnxL2J-6-d7gcMD1xN9pDC4CJWj1TdZ1A6E-VAPkR6Vq_NtTm6Ngm8WE7OCRQT4fhD63X0/s1600/geneticbrochure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAThMkKh820gA4xkn_WKoglYx662EtR2hJtcitJTDsBfyvoueSB6OD6aCi4iPnsjqyjtFVjnxL2J-6-d7gcMD1xN9pDC4CJWj1TdZ1A6E-VAPkR6Vq_NtTm6Ngm8WE7OCRQT4fhD63X0/s1600/geneticbrochure.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">We are so happy they are all spreading the word about the prevention of rheumatic heart disease throughout Rwanda.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" /><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Our patients had the opportunity to participate in a research study at the reunion...a project we hope will lead to answers about RHD in Rwanda. </span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-66263654154998574312015-03-01T02:19:00.001-05:002015-03-13T16:59:10.617-04:00Team Heart Joins Forces with Kigali Reads<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We are excited to announce brand new partnership of Team Heart and Kigali Reads! This initiative began when Ceeya met Parfait, a Rwandan who is getting his graduate degree at UMASS and learned about his work with Kigali Reads. Parfait has worked hard to establish a literacy center for children to go to before and after school in Rwanda but needed some help securing some books for the Center . The Willett family took this project on and collected over 600 books which were shipped to Rwanda with the Team Heart supplies and delivered to Kigali Reads by Drew, Anne and Rick. The children were so happy to receive the books! They opened the boxes like it was Christmas morning.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We had much needed assistance carrying the books down a narrow path to the new reading center, .Rindiro Jean from Kigali Reads, Drew and his new friend.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Andy is holding up the new banner announcing the partnership between Kigali Reads and Team Heart with Grace, the reading center's director. Grace is Parfait's sister. The children are shown here are holding water bottles and wearing shirts donated by Furnace Brook Middle School in Marshfield, MA.</span></span></span><br />
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-86925664072799526122015-03-01T02:05:00.001-05:002015-03-13T16:59:44.374-04:00<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We are Hard at Work in Rwanda!!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Many of our dedicated nurses come from Near and far. We couldn't do what we do without these dedicated individuals! Pictured here we have Joy from Seattle, Harriet, Judy and Madelon from South Carolina, Lydia and Molly from Vermont, Lauren from Colorado and Sue</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">llen and Kayla from Boston</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF0DtEZLP0iavLz-RMeolmfzv__LXRO6qdE1Ou8zeA1T8zDyJIUe9E7iX_PQiGaGpdyX6HQMcKdaRNP6-kOBwNx5VFsdHTlTDNACldFOLBpZhNYAHL2nonjnlZE1PDvioe39FoORUmk4/s1600/imagejpeg+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF0DtEZLP0iavLz-RMeolmfzv__LXRO6qdE1Ou8zeA1T8zDyJIUe9E7iX_PQiGaGpdyX6HQMcKdaRNP6-kOBwNx5VFsdHTlTDNACldFOLBpZhNYAHL2nonjnlZE1PDvioe39FoORUmk4/s1600/imagejpeg+(2).jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Patrick, the Rwandese medical resident assigned to Team Heart is working on increasing his ECHO skills with Marilyn, one of our cardiac sonographers. A cardiac sonographer images the heart with ultra sound. We identify the patients needing surgery with this tool and then follow them throughout their surgery and recovery using this imaging technique. Many of the patients who have had heart surgery in previous years will come back to the hospital to have their heart checked with one of our sonographers this year.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdYUqSNo28wgOt95iqOfeYbp82c_bjeFT9ThqSpm1pg9i4YWy2PjpSsfmSEdgEqiC-QIWKBOnaY9j-jxG7dhRk4YheU9iJixG93BAxYeFqOuENMzVhsAadB0qLlq-7lLxHrYVALCUgbg/s1600/unknown+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdYUqSNo28wgOt95iqOfeYbp82c_bjeFT9ThqSpm1pg9i4YWy2PjpSsfmSEdgEqiC-QIWKBOnaY9j-jxG7dhRk4YheU9iJixG93BAxYeFqOuENMzVhsAadB0qLlq-7lLxHrYVALCUgbg/s1600/unknown+(2).jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-29781870707188225122015-02-26T03:49:00.003-05:002015-03-13T16:59:57.716-04:00Team Heart is making progress:)<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;" /></span></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">We are so pleased to announce our first patient, 25 year old Aline has been moved out of the ICU and into the Stepdown ward. Aline lives in an orphanage in Nyanza Province where many of our other patients have lived. In the picture she is with our nurses Hillary from Minnesota, Molly from Vermont and Beatha from Rwanda. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Last year we were able to perform surgery on fifteen year old Redempta. Because of the poor living conditions and the need for the patients to stay on blood thinners, her Mother felt she could not properly care for her. Now, a year later Redempta is thriving; she is healthy and happy and yes, as her Mother had hoped, through an educational scholarship is living with our nurse practitioner Julie's family. This year Redempta is here with us in Rwanda to offer encouragement to others who are facing valve replacement surgery.</span></span></span><br />
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<img src="webkit-fake-url://5b6c2e34-9e89-43cb-9266-2d1caebf60a1/imagejpeg" />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217726441299218390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-2848650192056955062015-02-23T22:57:00.001-05:002015-02-23T22:57:53.813-05:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: white;">Team Heart 2015 had their first official gathering yesterday in Rwanda to select the patients who will be operated on while we are here. The screening team did and excellent job of identifying then presenting the many acutely ill patients that are candidates for surgery. It was a very long day with many productive discussions about each person presented. The patients selected will have life saving heart valve replacement surgery with tissue or mechanical valves within the next few days. Pictured below is part of the team lead by Dr. Chip Bolman hard at work.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">These are some of our wonderful nurses Connie, Susan and Hilary who are awaiting the arrival of their first post-op surgery patient in the Intensive care unit </span>on Monday<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">. Connie and Susan have been here many times before but this is Hilary's first trip to Rwanda with Team Heart</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: white;">Our first patient who is a 25-year old young man is successfully transferred to the ICU! Pictured below is Dr. Bruce Leavitt looking on as the Rwandan team and Team Heart members begin post operative care. </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-60405917251937899102014-04-07T19:24:00.000-04:002014-08-08T15:52:47.179-04:00What is your Mission?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mission Statement</span></u><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Working in partnership with
the Rwandan Ministry of Health, and the Rwanda Heart Foundation, and global
partners, TeamHeart will address the burden of cardiac disease:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">To address the suffering of
adolescents and young adults afflicted with advanced rheumatic and congenital heart disease in
Rwanda with surgical intervention to return to a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">productive and fulfilling </i></b>life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">To work with the medical and
nursing staff in Rwanda to establish a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sustainable </i></b>regional center of
excellence in cardiac care for children and adults.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">To prevent advanced
rheumatic heart disease through a combined effort of surveillance, prevention,
education and early intervention as an example of effective countrywide
intervention against rheumatic heart disease that can inspire a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">scalable </i></b>
model in sub-Saharan Africa. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">Program Components</span></u><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1. Cardiac Surgery: Now in
our eighth year, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General
Hospital (BWH/MGH) based TeamHeart (TH) will continue to work with the Ministry
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">2. Rheumatic and Congenital Heart
Disease Registries: Working together with the Ministry of Health, the Rwandan
Heart Foundation, TH will identify register and implement a care-delivery system
for those patients requiring surgical care. Those with milder forms of rheumatic heart disease who need secondary prophylaxis, will be followed with a goal to prevent the progression of disease. Patients
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">3. Management of Cardiac
Disease: To prevent rheumatic fever (RF), and thereby progression to rheumatic
heart disease (RHD), a collaborative project will improve management of all
aspects of streptococcal infections in a region that has been identified with a presumed high rate of disease. Identification, early intervention, prevention and
post operative follow up will be the focus of the first outreach clinics in the country
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<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-61804772547928231812014-03-12T02:17:00.001-04:002014-03-12T02:17:38.106-04:00<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Dear Members of Team Heart 2014:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I have been back in Boston for the last couple of days, and have had some time to reflect on the visit of Team Heart to Kigali this year. In many ways, this trip proved to be the most satisfying of all our trips to date. It was also, without a doubt, the most intense and exhausting, partly because of the extracurricular activities which accompanied the usual surgical challenges. The main thing, indeed, the thing that keeps all of us coming back, year after year, is the unbelievable patients. This year, as always, the challenges were many, and also, as always, they were outstripped by the rewards. Beginning with the amazing work of the screening team, and the humbling responsibility of choosing only the 16 most 'deserving' to have the opportunity to undergo surgery, the patients quickly winnowed their way into our collective consciousness and affection. Seeing the effect this has on the various team members is always remarkable to behold. One of the challenges many of us face is learning to maintain sufficient emotional distance to be able to continue to function when the inevitable disappointments happen, and at the same time, not compromise our compassion for these very sick and vulnerable people. We operated on sixteen high-risk patients, by any measure which can be applied. Thanks to the selfless, tireless efforts from all involved, from the theatre team to the ICU and the step-down unit, and including Sluice Team 6, all the volunteers, our biomedical experts, these patients were all given at the very least a chance at a longer and healthier life, and the opportunity to pursue their dreams. I know I say this every year, but it is so rare as to warrant comment yet again. One of the most consistently moving aspects of this entire experience year to year is the way each and every team member checks their egos at Customs, and does absolutely whatever is necessary to ensure that the patients do well. That everyone helps everyone else, without being asked, and that the laser focus is always, always on the patients and on each other, speaks volumes about the quality of individual that this effort has attracted. This is the best work that we do in our careers, and I am truly humbled and proud to work with each and every one of you. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I would like to also recognize our Rwandese colleagues, who, this year, stepped up to perform at a higher level than ever before. In theatre, perfusion and anesthesia was more Rwanda-centered than ever. In ICU and Step-down, the same was true. This is very rewarding to behold, and bespeaks the need for a more sustainable effort in cardiac surgery in Rwanda, such that this momentum in education and information transfer can be maintained and enhanced. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In this, our seventh year of performing surgical missions, I feel that we have finally reached a threshold of credibility regarding both our commitment to Rwanda, as well as our ability to consistently perform cardiac surgery at a very high level. This cachet was evident in many of our discussions with various stakeholders, including the leadership of KFH, Dr. Gasakura, the physician to the President, the Ministers of Education and State, representatives of the Ministry of Health, the President and Vice-President of the Senate of Rwanda, among others. The visit of Sir Magdi Yacoub and his daughter, Lisa, also enhanced our credibility, and allowed us to begin to leverage our work to help reach the next level, namely to develop a sorely-needed dedicated cardiac center for Rwanda and the surrounding region. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I will stop there, as I have already rambled on too long. Thank you, one and all, for your dedication and for your love of your fellow man, so evident in all your efforts for Team Heart on behalf of our mutual patients. Til next year. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Chip Bolman</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577708189869079215.post-17172273363628910202013-12-30T11:23:00.001-05:002013-12-30T11:46:40.313-05:002014 RHD Resolutions<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjFK-uvtbDcxCc95Tq_yLLb1zxUWwiNu7EO_otQDfsDKJuCpQJXpYTdzKabrtt7a_n-gJkXXomn_0nNVeL2OsOP9SURXTz6z4LBhwaa1-Kq2bH8WSUVa1A5huOVNWin0ufGppQkHRg0c/s1600/JP+and+Ange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjFK-uvtbDcxCc95Tq_yLLb1zxUWwiNu7EO_otQDfsDKJuCpQJXpYTdzKabrtt7a_n-gJkXXomn_0nNVeL2OsOP9SURXTz6z4LBhwaa1-Kq2bH8WSUVa1A5huOVNWin0ufGppQkHRg0c/s320/JP+and+Ange.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Here Jean Paul greets young Ange...one of our favorite teens from near Butare. Ange has a bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement--and a smile to light up the room! Here, she was photographed a year after surgery by Mackenzie Craig.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Each Monday we are anxious to hear something inspirational to help us do a better job from various sources updating over weekend. Today's message on
Movie Monday was in that category because it speaks to TeamHeart mission...
Helping others to connect to save lives and be generous. If you would like to
watch the 3-minute inspiring video, please visit:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">http://moviemondays.com/261-generosity/?awt_l=9mouo&awt_m=JIhYvmlU0WSBtP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">This video clip led to
a New Year Resolution list for RHD & Advocacy, which is always topped off by first, a
safe screening and surgical trip, this year scheduled in 2014 in February to March 8. Taking 35
medical volunteers across the ocean and home again safely is a priority. Getting 16
desperately ill individuals in and out of the OR and hospital safely is a priority of equal
importance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Through a generous grant from The Medtronic Foundation, the Bakken Invitation recognizes the volunteerism and advocacy of Jean Paul Iyamuremye. Planning an advocacy resolution list involves Jean Paul and a group of local patients and staff who will develop and priortize to begin to implement in February. Starred items are already in the development or process. The list of participants involves patients as advocates, medical personnel in nursing, medicine, pharmacy and public health from Rwanda and US.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Suggestions have included:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Develop a statement of RHD
advocacy with group consensus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">*Promote pre- and post
operative teaching by video, booklet, and individual teaching by patient
support group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">*Care pathways
individualized for patients. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Advocacy for Warfarin
distribution and testing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">*RHD prevention posters for
health centers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Radio drama for awareness
and prevention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">"Tell the story"
recordings—this might be a nurse, a patient or a business person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">*Collaborating with Rwanda leaders
in nursing education via curriculum development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Develop a speakers bureau
to include patients, physicians, nurses--prepare and distribute presentations
appropriate for range of audiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Develop a Rwanda Patient Care Network resource website…designed and managed in Rwanda in Kinyarwandan/English/French.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Promote social and economic
initiatives to support the return of productivity of those having had cardiac
surgery- collaborate with local development partners <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> WHO RHD
booklet --translated and edited into Kinyarwandan and development of resource list, "what is being done in
Rwanda currently to support RHD". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">*Translate <u>Hearts of Courage</u> to Kinyarwandan for local distribution....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Join us to help change the
life of an individual with rheumatic heart disease from the bedside to economic stability and personal health maintenance--a life long process. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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