Thank you from Chip and Ceeya

Ceeya writes:

Today, Egidia returns home and Team Heart will be home in full. I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one for the incredible job. Always rising to the challenge and characteristically with an offer to help before being asked.

From the moment we landed and the volunteers helped unpack and set up, thank you Andy, Katherine and Natalie, Paige and Sofia to the patient work up with Gene, Les, Warren and smiling Jen and Meera (hey hey).....From the moment patients reached theater into the competent hands of Daljit, Luigi, and Nelson with Dr. Bonaventure we were on track, even with some very fragile patients to induce. Thanks to Chip and Prem for doing what they do best with a very competent support team Katie, Laureen and Terry. Barry always steady, always competent and calm shoring up where it needed to be and never complaining....Even getting Leslie M and Judah into OR...What a wonderful addition the MGH and Minnesota team makes to Team Heart!

Thanks to Amy and Mike--the dynamic duo. Cannot imagine a better perfusion team anywhere for this type of work. ICU was led by ever competent Jim and Zara and of course the ever present John Connell who received the ultimate compliment...the ONLY person the Rwandan team wants to make certain returns....(a reflection of John's willingness to always help out and not judge or treat people with anything less than full respect!). ICU nursing is a group of the most competent people Ahsley, Barbara, Bridget, Kevin, Leslie, Lindsey, Lisa, and Sue and thank goodness for Brenda and Jane.....what would we have done without them--they never complained of all the hours they worked.

Stepdown was busy and packed for several days, but still time for teaching and in Kinyarwandan...no less.With Egidia, Carol, Denise, Kristin, Marie, Monica, Sara, Terry-- and Sofia when needed....Thank you Liv, you were great--next year we want you to stay longer....

I am so glad George was with us...no fair sneaking off in the middle of the night.....no one was able to say good-bye.

We cannot forget to include thank yous to the Rwanda based team, Drs. Betty, Mugisa and Mucumbitsi and Juliet--with leadership of Maureen.....thank you to the warm welcome and preparations of Rosemary--thank you to Campbell for making things fit together and Clare, John McCally and Dr. Innocent for listening.

Last thanks to the volunteers in Boston, there at the beginning counting meds and planning and there at the end....Bonnie, Pharmacy, Anne and Julie and of course Ms. Leslie, who procured and packed what I had forgotten and listened to my panic stricken midnight emails and calls...

Smitha--many thanks for being there and helping to take care of the patients in hospital now...I knew you were an answer to a prayer when I first heard from you.....between you and Drs. Betty, Alex and Maurice and Dr. Narish, I know the patients are in good and competent hands.

And Hal we learned much from you because of the questions you asked--we will stay in touch (as soon as my voice returns)

Katherine will be scheduling a debriefing, so stay in touch. If there is information that did not get placed in the green reminder book, let me, Katherine or your team leader know..... Jim has volunteered to find a central photo sharing spot....more on that later....

KFH team is doing a really really good job. Anastasie is off dopamine, might have left ICU today, Genevie is getting better, Claudine has had some syncopal epidsodes and getting a neuro work up to rule out seizures, Jean la dieu is having fevers and will be in hospital for a time--there are others diruresing but progressing. We are lucky to have you all---


Chip writes:

Please allow me to add my heartfelt and sincere thanks and appreciation for all the hard work and dedication once again displayed by every member of the team. Ceeya speaks for both of us in expressing our deep pride in being associated with such an outstanding group of human beings. You are an inspiration to both of us. What we have accomplished, all of us together, is a wonderful start toward an eventual self-sustained heart surgery program in Rwanda. You should all be justifiably proud of your contributions. It could not have been done without you. Thank you, and I am already having Rwanda withdrawal, and looking forward to next year.