Preparing to Return to Rwanda!

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