Manikins for Missions: CPR Training

Behind every mission is a community of people who believe that everyone deserves access to quality heart care. You are an important part of that community, and we thank you.

A Year of Growth and New Opportunities

We are pleased to share that CardioStart has had a very successful year, with one more mission remaining.

This year, we took an exciting step toward expanding our reach in Africa. A CardioStart team visited the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where we are preparing equipment and supplies to support the development of this new mission site. Our international colleagues also traveled to Brazil for training and attended a surgical conference in South Africa with CSIA, expanding their knowledge and strengthening professional relationships.

We continue to work toward our goal of expanding adult cardiac surgery services, with potential mission sites at various stages of development in Zimbabwe, Kano, Nigeria, Mongolia, and Mozambique. Each represents an opportunity to build new partnerships and help more patients receive the care they need.

Meanwhile, our warehouse operations in Oregon have been working hard to prepare and distribute essential medical equipment and supplies to support our partners in Ukraine, Cambodia, the Dominican Republic, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania.

These efforts may happen behind the scenes, but they are essential to the success of our missions. The right equipment, in the right place, can make an extraordinary difference.

Caring for Communities, Building Skills for the Future

Our work extends beyond the operating room. In the Dominican Republic, CardioStart supports rural clinics and community outreach, including dental care, which plays an important role in overall health and can help reduce certain risks associated with heart disease.

Education remains at the heart of our mission. Our volunteers teach side by side with local healthcare professionals, sharing practical skills at the bedside and through lectures and demonstrations. Training includes CPR, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and electrocardiography (ECG).

We are currently raising funds to purchase training manikins that will enhance our hands-on educational programs. These tools will help our international partners strengthen their skills and, in turn, teach others in their own communities.

This is what makes CardioStart's work so meaningful: the impact does not end when a mission ends. The knowledge shared, the skills developed, and the relationships built continue to benefit patients and healthcare teams long after our volunteers return home.

Your Generosity Makes This Possible

As we look toward our 40th year, we are reminded that CardioStart's accomplishments belong to all of us—our volunteers, our international partners, and the donors who make this work possible.

Your generosity provides medical equipment, supports training, establishes new partnerships, and expands access to cardiac care in communities where resources are often limited. Most importantly, your support helps local healthcare professionals continue this work long after our teams have departed.

We hope you share our excitement as CardioStart approaches this important milestone. There is still so much to do, and we look forward to continuing this work together.

Thank you for believing in our mission, for caring about patients and families around the world, and for helping us make a lasting difference. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and hope you will continue to support CardioStart as we enter our next chapter.

With sincere appreciation,

The CardioStart Team

Together, we are building a future where more children and adults have access to the cardiac care they need.

Links:

• CardioStart website