I'm going to Rwanda!

In June I attended an meeting to learn some details about an upcoming trip to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. I wasn't sure if this was something I truly wanted to be apart of, or could be. The plan is to do 15 open heart surgeries in 18 days for people who suffer from Rheumatic Heart Disease. 2 surgeons, 1 surgical physician assistant, 3 cardiologists, 1 echo tech, 1 bypass pump tech, 5 OR nurses, 9 ICU nurses, 9 Step down nurses and a few laymen to round out our 45 member team. I soon realized that I wanted to be apart of this amazing opportunity. I was chosen to be apart of the 9 member step down team. Another nurse and I are the youngest to be traveling. We leave on the 5th of February, arrive the 7th, 1st surgery is on the 8th and then we leave on the 23rd. What a month! We needed to raise $2,500 for our own personal airfare (which I have done with the generous support of family and friends) and be willing to give up our vacation time as well.

Well its coming down to the last 90 days before our trip and we are trying to tie up all the loose ends. The group needs about $100,000 to be able to afford the supplies and ship everything to Africa. We are apply for grants and also holding tons of benefits.

The website is www.ujamamedicalconnections.com if you want more information.

Our trip is so important because there is a list of over 500 people who desperately need life saving surgery. That doesn't include everyone else who just needs a checkup or preventative care. During the 1994 genocide, 75% of the medical community was killed. For the 10 million in the country, there are 225 doctors and of those 225, 2 are cardiologists.... not even surgeons. Our group is being supported by other groups from Boston, Australia and another team from either Israel or India. They have been before and the combination of everyone puts a trained surgeon in the country at least every 4 months. Hopefully we can educate both the doctors and the nurses while we are they so we can start to make this country self sufficient once again.