Cleveland Update

Emmanual’s out of the hospital, so we currently have no patient in Cleveland Clinic, although that could change as early as next week. Three-year-old Jenny Auguste has a surgery date of March 7. It’s the usual race with the U.S. consulate and the Haitian social services department in Port-au-Prince to get them the papers in time to get the visa and plane ticket. Our good friend Chris is running the race for us and them, bouncing around PAP like a pinball. If anyone can get it done, though, it’s Chris. She has an appointment at the consulate on Monday for the visas.

We found out about Jenny a couple of trips ago when a Canadian missionary brought her to us. She has a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), an abnormal connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery resulting in too much blood going to the lungs. As far as heart surgery goes, it’s a fairly easy fix; the child doesn’t have to go on bypass. I guess she will be the first easy patient we’ve brought to Cleveland Clinic.

There will be a Haitian Hearts’ presence at Cleveland Clinic next week. Stay posted for further details.