Suellen writes:

It's 10:40 pm Kigali time. Another long, yet rewarding day. Two cases today--the first case of the day is doing well. The second had not come from the OR when I left the hospital at 7:30. It feels as though the team is coming together and getting into a comfortable rhythm. The step down unit nurses will join us tomorrow after returning this evening from their adventure in gorilla country and patients will begin the next phase of their recovery out on the ward. Our Rwandan/KFH team members -- nurses, doctors, and other staff--have been extremely helpful, supportive, and collaborative. It's been great to reunite with familiar friends and meet new colleagues here at the hospital.

For the most part--at least so far-the patients this year seem to be younger and perhaps sicker than last year. But this perception could be a case of selected memory. On this second trip with Team Heart, I find the personal reward of providing this life saving surgery to a few is tempered by the realization that so many others here are afflicted with this preventable disease and that factors such as hunger and poverty only complicate an already complicated issue.

But the fruits of this mission have not gone unrealized. Of course there's Erneste. Looking healthy and thriving. It's so good to see him and his big smile and spend time with him again. A few days ago, a group of us were reminded of why this mission is important. As we were leaving a coffee shop in the center of Kigali, we happened to run into Jean Paul, a patient who received an aortic valve replacement last year on April 8. He is working as a driver, financially supporting his wife, and looking and feeling great!

That's it for now. Time to rest up for another day.