Well today is the day we leave for our 7th trip to Rwanda to do life saving heart surgery on 14-16 fortunate young people over the next week. I do a short 3 day stop over in Zurich to visit my favorite cousin Linda with Kevin and Suellen. This is to help with the jetlag and treat ourselves to the wonderful fun and cuisine only Zurich can offer. We are looking forward to this very much.
Kevin McWha and Suellen Breakey have made multiple trips with Team Heart also, using vacation time from work and raising money for plane tickets . It seems like a big sacrifice ( and it is) but it is so exciting to be able to renew a professional practice that can sometimes get stale. It is during these two weeks that i realize why i became a nurse. Working in Rwanda is compassionate caring at it's best; knowing that every person who is working with you is sacrificing their vacation time, family time and physical strength working many, many hours in the name of Team Heart and it's mission to give someone a second chance at life. We all care deeply about this mission. The fruit of this mission is realized when you see patients from previous years' healthy, happy and LIVING a good life. Many of our former patients have returned to school and started businesses. Some have given back and assisted new patients in follow up care and pre op teaching. One has even named a child after the surgeon who saved his life!
I think anyone who has had a " second chance" appreciates the gift that it is; to be healthy and live a productive life is a gift. May i alway continue to realize how blessed i am to be healthy and how fortunate i am to be able to give to those who are not.
Team Heart patients of 2013
Note: last year the internet connection was poor and blog time was limited. i will try to blog at least 4-5 times to help you to understand how special this mission really is.
2012 patients at reunion
