First patient to Step-down on Wednesday

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.

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!

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. 

She has given her permission to use her photograph.