Our patients from previous years begin to arrive to greet us anxious to show us the amazing progress they have made. We love to see them and hear the stories of their lives. Jean de Dieu, Alphonse (sends his greetings to Dr. Prem) and Delphine, Shabani and Claudine, and of course Jean Paul and Erneste who have been serving as our interpreters and cheerleaders for the patients. The young patients are frightened before the pending surgery because they have never met anyone who has had such a large cardiac procedure--then they meet Erneste and Jean Paul and it gives them the courage to face the next day with their incredible grace.

The step-down nurses are happy to begin their work. Our first patient has been very patient with us as we snap multiple photographs with his permission. He seems totally at ease with his fame, and fell asleep with his pre-op teaching book and therapeutic pillow in his arms...