It has been minus 13 Fahrenheit for the last two weeks in Madison, so going south to the Dominican Republic is very appealing - even if it is to work.

 

This is our second mission to the Dominican Republic to perform free heart surgery. The team has changed since last year.

Captain America (our St. Jude Medical rep) and his wife Lisa just had a baby girl so he can't come with us, but his boss Pierre plans to join us. Annette's son broke his leg and she will have to stay back to take care of him, but Natasha will join us as our ICU nurse.

 

So this year in addition to UW Hospital staff Jake "Speedo" (perfusionist), Jody "McGyver" (OR tech) and me (heart surgeon) who were on the last trip, the others include: Pierre (St. Jude Medical manager), and additional UW Hospital staff Natasha (ICU nurse), Mary (anesthesiologist), Pat "Dr. Large" (cardiologist), Sarah (ICU nurse) and Andrew (EMT).

 

PHOTO (above): The Madison Crew

 

Preparing for this mission has been particularly difficult. The economic times has made it hard to find financial support for our travel and equipment, but St. Jude came through yet again providing valves and money to help with the travel expenses. They have been remarkably supportive of this mission in both financial support and equipment.

 

In addition, Medtronics provided pump equipment, Scanlan Instruments provided equipment and Edwards Lifesciences provided valve repair equipment. I am appreciative of how supportive these medical companies have been despite the economic climate.

Friday, January 30th 2009: Day 1

The UW crew meets at Truax (Sarah and Andrew will join us in Chicago), it is still minus 13 but Pat is wearing his Hawaiian shirt with a prominent size "Large" store label attached to the front pocket. It doesn't take long for him to pick up the nickname "Dr. Large."

 

Mary, Pat and Natasha all look apprehensive, it is their first trip and we can empathize, it was only last year we sat in the same airport waiting area wondering what we had gotten ourselves into.

The Heart-to-Heart mission is the brainchild of the now retired Dr. Bob Pascotto. Five or six years ago, Bob and his wife Joan started arranging for teams to come to Santiago in the Dominican Republic to perform free heart surgery. We are his 20th mission.

In Chicago we meet up with Sarah and Andrew; the UW team is complete.

 

Next stop, Miami where we will meet Fritz and our friends, the surgical team from Wausau, as well as Bob and Joan. Although Fritz Riveron (heart surgeon) and Mary (ICU nurse) have done this trip before, this is the first mission for the rest of his team: Paula (PA from Colorado), Jennifer (OR nurse), Sean (perfusionist), Jeff (anesthesiologist), Linda (OR tech), Annie (ICU nurse) and Zander (volunteer).

 

PHOTO (above): Meeting up with the Wausau Team