Preparation for Team Heart's 15th Surgical Trip
As the last-minute flurry of trip arrangements takes over, I paused
to reflect on the need for these surgical development trips. In the midst of
counting chest tubes, suture boxes, pre-travel COVOD test, etc. The lists of
supplies are long and complex and human resources involve many very giving,
talented people. It is our hope that this
trip ignites the flame it takes to move closer a sustainable program and gives
our Rwandan colleagues the boost they need. For us, it is like coming home.
We each keep saying, we are so very close; closer than we
have been at any other time in 14 years. But for those Rwandan colleagues who
have given up much to seek training and education, they too are impatient to
see the program move forward.
Our goal for this surgical development trip is to increase
access for treatment for those with untreated strep throat through childhood intervention
in Rwanda. As we pack supplies to repair and all too often,
replace incredibly damaged heart valves, the children and young adults we will
care for next week did not have the opportunity to access care when needed.
That care is rapidly improving in Rwanda but has left many, many with yet
undiagnosed and untreated rheumatic heart disease as a result of undiagnosed strep throat.
My inbox is full of well wishes from our team; those who
have traveled before and know the impact of this trip. This time, we are taking
a small team, one carefully selected to begin to rebuild after a year delay due
to COVID. We will not be operating on as many patients, and the surgery will all be
done by the Rwandan team, but it is what we have hoped for and worked toward
for 14 years.
The blog will be updated by various team members, capturing
their individual experiences and we
welcome your comments and feedback. So many people make this trip happen. Thank
you to the donors who are so loyal. Thank you to the team who plan and step
forward to help find supplies during international shortages. Thank you to
those who could not travel but worked just as hard securing supplies. Leslie
Philips, Sara Pitman and Kristin Calheno-Hill and Connie Fail thank you! Thank
you to Sara Jean for the social media links while we travel and Kari for
editing and posting the blog. A special thank you to Maine Medical and Brigham
and Women’s Hospital for the critical donation we could not purchase. It is
because of you, we can do what we do. Murakose Cyane! --- Ceeya
