Emmanuel ( our 2011 miracle patient) with Dr Dave

Home at last....some parting thoughts

I arrive to Boston at 2pm on Sunday after almost 24 hr of travel.   I was both tired and happy to be home.   I was picked up by my daughter Kristin who filled me in on all the news i missed for the last 3 weeks.   She did a wonderful job of keeping my plants watered and cats happy and it was nice to walk into my home and relax.   Kristin wanted to know if i wanted anything to eat and i told her a steak would be nice and in no time i had a greek salad with med rare steak tip delivered (  she had gone to work across the street at the Greek pizza company);   all the flavors i had been missing....thank you.. a hot bath,  warm PJ's and my bed welcomed me to a long 10 hr sleep.....today i feel wonderful!

My Team Heart mission was very rewarding this year.   Our team worked very well together and did what it took to get the job done.  ICU nurses worked in the ward and the ward nurses worked in the ICU;  some volunteering extra shifts and all of us doing 12 hr shifts ; an average of 7 out of 9 days.   No one complained ( at least not much) as we were there for our beautiful patients;  most adolescents from 14-20 yo.  The staff of King Faisal Hospital was tremendous and helpful and will keep us updated on our patients progress.  Thank you to all the great team members i work with for the first time and the others that have been part our this project for years.   5 year team members Chip and Ceeya Bolman and Suelleen Breakey;   Our ICU resource nurse Connie ;   My "work wife" Alysia who shared most of my shifts with me and my roomate for the second year,  Michelle, who's generous spirit was felt by all;  not to mention she is a lot of fun.   Kevin McWha, who's passion for this mission has been renewed in a big way;   your the best!   

I love this work as it renews my soul and confirms why i love nursing.   The patients of Rwanda are so grateful for a chance at life;   they understand it is a gift.    They recover from surgery in a most miraculous way;   within a day they were all off  IV heart medicine, out of bed and eating.  This  would take days and weeks at home to accomplish with our patients. 

   They bless your work with prayer. Their eyes are soulful and honest.  There is a spirituality felt working with them that transends anything else i have ever done .  

 I love Rwanda and it's people and i will return;  God willing. 

 Thanks for following my 2012 trip.   Love ,  Susan

Our Rwandan patients have huge hearts both literally and figuratively

Dr Pat Come and Diondonne our triple valve pt.   She worked hard to have him placed on the list

Celestine and Jean De Dieu;   a beautiful pair of boys

My five year relationship with Clementine has seen lots of changes;   She is now engaged to be married to Afrodes .
 A beautiful couple;   they will marry in August 2012

Emmanuel has been our respiratory therapist for the 5 years i have been coming to Rwanda.
  He works hard and is so gentle and kind.

Alysia having some fun 

Leslie working in the ward with our Rwandan colleague and pt. Diodonne

combo of MGH and BWH  staff at our thank you party at the roof of the Top Tower hotel.  Most of our team are from these 2 Boston hospitals but we also have team members from many states.
  We sure do clean up good!

Felicity and Placid at the thank you party;  Both King Fisal Hospital nurses did a fantastic job in the ICU

Everyone  knows i love to dance.    This is me and Dr Joseph " getting down" at the party
note Kevin McWha and Clemantine and Bonnie in the back.   we had a great time!

Last day and at the airport

I can not believe we will be boarding in less than 30 min and my trip is over.   I will be back in Boston in 24 hrs at 2pm Sunday and return to work at the BWH on wednesday.    It was a great time and lots of hard work but for the first time i know i will be back without reservations ( God willing).   I want to thank all who have followed this blog and supported my trip.    I truely appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.     Take care.    Susan

Rwandan Market place

relaxing and blogging in the VIP lounge in Kilgali airport;   for $12.50 it was well worth it!

Michelle my roomate, enjoying the lounge and catching up on mail

last night in Rwanda with wonderful friends

our last night in Rwanda started out with a party in our suite ( Michelle and i had a big room) and then we went to dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant the Sola Luna.    We ended the night playing a dice game  called Farkle and laughed the night away.   The young girls went out til 4am but i was in bed by midnight.

Patton women  Paige, Judy Kay and Ceeya

Pat and Sarah at dinner

Ernerste and Jean Paul;  2008 patients who are committed to Team Heart

My roomie Michelle and our Minnesota girls  ( with Jackie)

Paige, Vanessa and Leslie;   the Minnesota girls who taught us how to play Farkle

Some thoughts as we end

Susan, Dr Pat Come ( our cardiologist) and my " work wife" Alysia of MGH at the thank you party

I sit trying to up date this Blog and realize i have been so busy working i have had little or no time to do this....now 2012 is over and i am totally exhausted but very satisfied that our hard work has changed the world for 17 patients and 35 team members.
  I am always deeply touched by my experience here.   It is hard and wonderful;  gratifying and at times discouraging, but very important.   I have met people who have sweated hard work and hugged with deep meaning.    I will board a plane in 24 hours and touch down to my reality but hopefully with a new perspective.   Stuff like this changes your life.......

more pictures of my time with team heart

Ceeya, King Fisal Hospital administrator, Connie and Judith

Suellen teaching 

Celeste and Jean Di Dieu,  our newest Red Sox fans

Our previous patients ( including Alice our first women patient of 2008) encouraging our current pts

Judy Kay and Fredrick

Dr Tom Matthews of Colorado with Theopista

Bonnie,  pharmacist of the year!

some of our team members at the thank you party at the Top Tower

Kevin McWha and Pat with patient Theonste

one of my favorite pictures   Marcelline and Alysia of MGH  ( and it is her birthday!)

our two men ( most were boys)  Theonest and Fredrick

Kevin , Jolie and me

lunch which was always wonderful and hot

more Pictures of the last day....

Ceeya and our 3 valve pt. Diodonne going over the valves

Listing to Diodonne's heart;   for some reason he loved this picture and wanted a copy

Jean Di Dieu of 2009 visiting and asking about Babaa

Team Heart founder Leslie Sabatino packing up

Our last Day of Team Heart 2012

Team Heart 2012  

Well we said good bye to our patients today and it was with a mix of sadness and happiness.   We have successfully operated on 17 patients in 2012 and all are doing well.   They have gone from frighten patients to fun and loving individuals who have bonded with many of us.   Many stand out for their struggles in surgery and post opertively.   Many stand out for their quiet coopertive manner.   All have shown us that we can never give up on the human spirit and the miracles that can happen when so many have one goal.    Time will tell to the success of our " class of 2012" but today a " graduate of Team Heart 2009" came to visit.  His name is Jean Di Dieu ( tall guy on the right next to Ceeya) and he is in his 3rd year of university and doing very well.   He talked to our pts and told them they will feel better and live a better life.   I truely believe this too and i do hope to see some of these patients next year!

some pictures from the ICU

michelle and marcelline

Angela and Frederic

dieudonne and celestine and jean de dieu visiting in ICU

JP Rwanda!

Another day with Team Heart

 Hard work needs decompression time and we find this when we share meals together.   This picture was taken at one of our favorite pizza joints.

 sign language works well and the rise of eye brows is the Rwandan " yes" but these are a few words that are universal to surgical recovery.   As Connie stated, Amazi is like air to these patients and we learn this word very quickly.

Richard came back to visit ( he had a long journey as he lives near the Congo border) and he brought us a wall picture his sister had made.   It was beautiful and touching.   This kind of thing can make a tough day a little easier and bring you back to why we are there.

Richard ( 2011) returning with a gift to Team Heart with his caretakers .

Teaching is a  very important part of our mission.  Here Placid ( nurse from Rwanda) Paige ( graduate nurse) and I join forces to recover 16yo Alexi.  He was quite amazing watching him and his big personality come to life.   When he was told his operation was over he wanted " all this out" ( the lines and tubes) and a Fanta soda.   This was maybe 3 hrs following his surgery .           

A day in surgery and icu; the patients are progressing

 After 5 years of coming to Rwanda i got a chance to watch my first Team Heart Surgery.   It was fantatic and i was excited ( as you can see).   I had a " ring side" view at the head of the table and learned lots from Chip Bolman and Bobby Oaks.   Maddie ( in  the OR) was super in setting me up.

Clementine, Dieudonne and I on post op day 2.   He is recovering well and is a very strong 20yo.













Ashley and Connie ( our leader!) in the ICU with a patient that just got out of surgery 2 hrs ago!

 

Madelelyn ( our echo expert) working working with our 16yo orphan who desperately needs surgery.    Kevin McWha at the bedside.












Maddie and our first patient, Jean Dedieu.   He is so much more animated in the ward setting where he knows " he made it"!

 This is our Rwandan hospital.   The best in Rwanda.

Pat working with Jolie.   She is one of the sweetest patient's we have had.