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.
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.
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.
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 on Monday. Connie and Susan have been here many times before but this is Hilary's first trip to Rwanda with Team Heart
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.
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