Physical Health Rwanda Project #24670

Team Heart

by TeamHeart, Inc.

Project Report | May 8, 2017
Updates From The 10th Surgical Trip

By Lilia Bacu | Project Leader

Dear friends,

What an exciting time we had in Kigali as we embarked on our 10th anniversary trip! The team consisted of 60 medical and healthcare specialists, with representation from multiple U.S. states and at least 5 different countries from around the globe, many of them returning members. We operated on 16 patients with advanced heart failure at King Faisal Hospital, the only hospital in Rwanda that could accommodate cardiac surgery. The first patient was Emmanuel, a 37 year old farmer who did extremely well. He had a quick recovery and was soon out of the ICU. Once on the Step-Down unit, he continued to receive education with regards to his new heart valve and optimal post-operative recovery. One of the unique challenges our patients face, is the lack of visiting nurses. Hence, before patients leave we must make sure they have the education and resources to get the medications and follow-up care that is needed after surgery. What a devoted and hard working group of people!

It always takes a team to achieve meaningful recovery and health maintenance, and we are proud to note that we have practiced transfer of knowledge and skill for the last 10 years. We work alongside with Rwandan health care professionals who are very open and ready to acquire new knowledge. They practice communication in a most efficient manner, which has been recognized by international researchers. This is something we too should strive to achieve.

Another treat the team encountered, is the visit of our former patients. Year after year we have patients monitoring our return and subsequently come back to see us. It is always a joy to see almost unrecognizable faces, mainly because their physical health is stronger and their shining faces reflect that. After surgery, these young adults go back to their communities where they live a productive life, something they are usually unable to experience for years prior to their surgical intervention.

I will finalize this report with an appeal, as I always do. The people of Rwanda have a desperate need for a cardiac surgery program and we have a remarkable group of Volunteers who strive to make this happen. Please consider making a monthly donation to Team Heart and spread the word with your families. #HelpBuildCardiacHospital4Rwanda

Thank you.
Lilia and Artur Bacu
Team Heart Advisory Board
liliabacu@yahoo.com

Our first patient being transfered out of the ICU!

A patient visiting from the step-down unit!

It's all about team work!

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Feb 7, 2017
Tremendous achievements

By Lilia Bacu | Project Leader

Dear friends,

I would like to start by thanking you for the continued support for Team Heart. We had a fantastic year, with lots of accomplishments. One of the greatest news in this arduous process of building a cardiac center for the people of Rwanda is that we received a land donation for the center! This was possible with the help of a hardworking team, including our Rwanda Country Director, Jeanne Umuhire. We are overjoyed and excited as this happened before our 10^th anniversary trip. And yes, the 10^th anniversary is just weeks away!

We are due to start the screening process on February 18^th and we expect to screen nearly 250 people. This is clearly more than what we operate on, hence the passionate desire to build a cardiac center for the people of Rwanda. We start the surgeries on February 27^th which will continue until March 7^th followed by a period of post operative care in the step down unit. In the meanwhile we are also planned for several activities which are designed to promote sustainability of the project. We scheduled an Echocardiogram training week for the NCD nurses, and a country wide program for INR tracking. Our patients receive mostly mechanical valves which requires them to be on warfarin, however the therapeutic doses need to be optimized based on INR levels. This program will help the people who live far away from the hospitals, to have their medications adjusted to optimal levels. What a great initiative! Our yearly patient education and reunion event will also happen while the team conducts the surgical work. Currently the Kigali office is drafting a shared press release about these tremendous achievements and we hope to do a public press conference when we are all there.

The people of Rwanda are in great need, and our goal is to fulfill that by bringing sustainable projects in order to achieve the ultimate goal: building a cardiac center. Our appeal to you is to continue to support this hard working team, and help bring life saving cardiac surgery to Rwanda. Please, consider making a monthly donation to Team Heart and share the good news with your friends.
Thank you.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at liliabacu@yahoo.com.
Lilia Bacu
Team Heart Advisory Board
Global Giving Lead
https://www.globalgiving.org/ projects/team-heart/

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Nov 23, 2016
Team Heart Promotes Education

By Lilia Bacu | Project Leader

After completing such a great campaign and finishing 2nd in the Global Giving Accelerator program, Team Heart thanks all of you for the outpouring support. Our efforts to raise awareness of Rheumatic Heart Disease have not stopped and our social media platform reflects that.

We have some great news! We started preparations for the next surgical trip, planned for February-March, 2017. In the meanwhile, the team continues to promote education and support our post-surgical children who are forced out of schools due to lack of funds.

The people of Rwanda are faced with many financial challenges, and sending their children back to school after such major surgery is one of them. While education is considered an important factor in the society, lack of funds and resources puts a great strain on families. Team Heart helps our post-surgical young adults and children in multiple ways and monitors their progress. We follow up with their providers and make great effort to ensure that they are able to return back to school. As we prepare to return for our 10th surgical trip to Rwanda, we continue with this important established norm.

Education is a major part of our identity as health promotion, counseling, and skill transfer are part of the sustainability program. Some of the funds raised on Global Giving are used to promote education, health maintenance and counseling to our patients. Be a part of this initiative and help us bring sustainability to this region by providing education so that we can prevent and intervene early when Rheumatic Heart Disease is suspected.

We strive to continue to advance our relationship with the people of Rwanda, and prepare to further our educational programs and skill transfer. These crucial steps are part of the ultimate goal Team Heart has - to build a cardiac hospital in Rwanda.

Thanks to you, we are able to help the people of Rwanda who undergo cardiac surgery. Please, continue to support our efforts by making a monthly donation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at liliabacu@yahoo.com.

Lilia and Artur Bacu
Team Heart Advisory Board
Global Giving Co-Chairs

http://www.teamheart.org/

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