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The group is having a blast! We were able to meet the four patients we are scheduled to operate on or perform a cath lab procedure on tomorrow.
We first started with a tour of the new Nairobi Hospital, a fair reflection of the rapid progress found throughout Kenya in terms of innovation, modernization and improving living conditions among the poor.
Dr. Kariuki, the local heart surgeon, was extremely hospitable and eager to welcome the team into the program. Since the last visit in 2005, he and the hospital have worked hard to achieve the goals set then such as a new cath lab, echocardiogram capabilities and updated equipment.
The goal of this trip, however, is primarily educational in the ICU setting. The 7 bed ICU serves children and adults and will be a challenge when taking care of a post operative heart patient that is a quarter of the size and an eighth of the age of the patient next to them.
The first patient we met was 12 year old Veronica who suffers from Tetrology of Fallot, a congenital heart defect affecting four different parts of her heart. Veronica greeted us with a warm smile and politely answered all of our questions with mature accuracy. She displayed her slightly blue-colored fingers that showed signs of chronic low oxygen in her blood, or “clubbed-fingers.” Veronica traveled with her mother from Kissumu, Kenya, about a 6 hour bus ride.
Other patients we met were little Denis, 8 years old, though looks as though he is not much older than 6 years. He was full of smiles until it was time to do his echocardiogram. The head nurse, or “sister”,
Rachel, explained that he is extremely afraid of procedures.
Rumaysa and Margaret, both 7 years old will have an abnormal blood vessel, or Patent ductus arteriosus, closed in the cath lab without having to undergo a surgical procedure. An intervential cardiologist, Dr. Demoor, from Boston, will be performing that procedure.
Another little girl, Jemima is a 10 year old who also needs her patent ductus arteriosus closed. Her family is originally from South Africa but now live on the Kenyan coast in Lamu.
More tomorrow!
Our team would love to hear from you. Please send your questions, comments or words of encouragement to
Whitney Partin, R.N., partinw@lebonheur.org.
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