I am where I am meant to be

Today is the first day of surgery! I was able to meet and chat with two HSCV referred patients (and their mothers' today). They will receive heart surgery at no cost! The donated supplies from CardioStart make this possible. This is certainly a big deal for these families with little financial means; consider that the cost for heart surgery is typically $3k.

One child, Hiep was 22 months (left image), is over the top adorable! He has a sweet smile that feels like it is masking a typically mischievous boy. As I interviewed both mothers, they told me about their children living in bad health, having shortness of breath and even fainting spells. They shared that they had debt from years of expenses from hospital visits and medication. Hiep has congenital heart disease, and going without surgery his life expectancy is very short. The surgery is absolutely essential, but still I was anxious for them. I wondered if the children knew what would happen soon. After all, surgery is scary enough for an adult. And when I saw Hiep get strolled into the ICU, I was a bit overwhelmed. It is hard to see him so tiny, with so many wires going in and out of him. Things beeping, monitors flashing. But it was wonderful to see the great care the ICU nurses were giving. Lisa Scott shared that the nurses had made great progress since last year; and of course that's amazing to hear. The mission is not just about making an impact on one person's life, but the great impact it will have on health care received in Vietnam in general.

The best part of the day was when Jim, our biomed (ie equipment extraordinaire) met with

Vu. Vu received life saving surgery last year. Vu's surgery was special for a few reasons. CardioStart worked with CryoLife to get a donated tissue valve, which came from a deceased American. This was historic event because it was the first time this transfer was done in Vietnam. Also special, during last year's mission, Jim had spoken to Vu's father and had learned that both had been Vietnam veterans. But for opposing sides. As they shared details, they found out that they were both fighting during the same exact time frame in the same exact area. Likely shooting ammunition against one another. For Jim, this eye opening experience brought a lot back, a flood of emotions then (when first meeting with Vu) and now, meeting Vu a year later, healthy and smiling. Jim shared with me that for all the bad that came from the war, it means a lot to see something good. For a big man of 67 years, seeing authentic tears from Jim, really shows yet another unique way this mission has had impacted those involved. I'm thrilled to see how much peace it brings to him.

There's so much each day I don't cover, the outreach program, the great work in the O.R., the lectures, the echo room, the tough work of the translators, there is so much else going on, so much good being done. But I will! Keep reading on! Each day brings another story to be told, another element of surprise, and another success.

As I wrap up this post, mosquito chomping at my ankles... it is hard to imagine that there is snow in Minnesota, Christmas shopping, Santa Claus and all the holiday hoopla. It feels as far from Christmas as it could be... But I am happy to be here and wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now!

Day 1

We were greeted so warmly as our bus pulled up to the hospital E medical center. A large red banner strewn above the entry door, welcoming the CardioStart team. Aubyn and Janine received big bouquets of flowers and warm embraces. A year had passed since they had last met the local team. There were an abundancy of smiling faces, excited each time a familiar CardioStart team member arrived. Over joyed to see the friends they had worked with in the 2009 mission.
We settled in a conference room. Both sides spoke to the large group, both leaders, Aubyn and Dr. Thanh were energetic, genuine, and charming. They are clearly great leaders. As the formalities ended, the work began. Teams started splitting off to get their tours. Echo, Perfusion, ICU, all words I had no idea what they meant. But now, I have learned they all are integral parts to operating on a heart. All I can say is chaos, or perhaps what felt like chaos to a lamens person. I suspect though, the doctors and nurses (especially mission veterans) are used to this level of excitement! To the girl who works from her home office for corporate America, this a bit more intensity than she is used to. People went off in all sorts of direction. In hours a rough education calendar was created, cases were presented, surgeries were scheduled, ICU unpacked equipment, copies of the database were made. Lots of work done. Lots of questions. Less answers. But it was quite clear, we'd either figure it out or make it up along the way. And all would would end well.
Lunch was over the top. The hospital made lunch and each table had about 10 courses, course after course of delicious food. Never have I had a delicious meal in an American hospital. Vietnamese people often refer to the United States as paradise. The pinnacle of all things. But I think the Vietnamese have the food thing figured it out.
Exhausted and tired, we arrived at our hotel. Knowing we'd have to get up early tomorrow and leave for the hospital by 6:30 am. As exciting as Day 1, it has been even more exciting to see things start to come together on Day 2; surgeries being conducted, systems being developed and overall everything is falling into place. Check back, I can't wait to share the heart warming story about Jim, our biomed and Vietnam vet...















In front of the new heart center at E hospital.



















Vice President of CardioStart, Janine Henson and Dr. Suresh Bhagia.















First meeting of the day.















President of HSCV, Chuck Devet, with a few board members.

The calm before

We've all arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam! What a relief to have safely gotten all 32 individuals from the airport and settled into our rooms. Some had arrived a few days early and even went on a bike tour! I'm still trying to adjust to the time change, so I'm pretty impressed with that level of intensity. And that's saying a lot since I'm pretty intense :)

I arrived around 3:00 pm yesterday (one of the later arrivals) and was greeted by some local doctors from Vietnam, Yen Nguyen (medical mission coordinator), and Hanh Ngo (HSCV staff). The doctors were absolutely amazing. Two women and one man greeted us, all three so young and so seemingly successful. I was absolutely thrilled to meet the two female doctors. It is truly wonderful to see because I've grown up with the notion that this is a culture with very traditional female roles. And as a feminist of sorts, that is exciting. The Vietnamese doctors were eager to use the English they had learned, genuinely interested in our trip to Vietnam and wanting to become fast friends. Arriving at the same time were a few translators that flew in from Da Nang, one of the other cities in the middle region of the country. Also Dr. Aubyn Marath flew in with tissue valves that were donated and to be used in the surgeries this week. In this cardboard box is tissue from an American that had passed brought here to save a Vietnamese person's life. Really gives you perspective on why we are here!

For me, it is my first time in this city. It's sort of like the Vietnam I know from all my previous trips, but with a twist. For example, last night we had amazing food. I had a Vietnamese fondue (Lau) at a restaurant called Highway 4, but instead of regular meats found in the Southy's version (shrimp, squid, beef) there was fighting cock and ostrich. It's subtly different, enough to make it interesting, but still has all the best parts of Vietnam. I'm finding I will really like it here, Hanoi is really quite a treasure. Especially from the culinary perspective, though this isn't supposed to be a food blog, I'm quite concerned I might slip a few times.

This morning is the first meeting where the entire team will gather and discuss the work ahead. We arrived from all over the world. 7 countries in all, from India, Spain, Canada, United States, to name a few. There is plenty to do; I've heard that there are plans for an ambitious 16 surgeries to be performed over the next weeks. Excited to see what is ahead! I will share more details about the activities of the mission as we start officially working tomorrow.

HSCV/Medical Mission Video

Bringing it back to the business at hand, thought this video would be great way for you to learn more about HSCV's programs and last year's medical mission. It's a nice recap of that impact that has been demonstrated by HSCV and CardioStart. View the HSCV/CardioStart Medical Mission video.

Homecoming

I've arrived! After 30 hours from door to door, I am finally here! What a celebration in itself! Consider that I could have faced delays in both Minnesota and Chicago with the ongoing snow/sleet/rain and the many combinations of such. Consider that I could have missed my plane on either transfer or that I anticipated being heavily questioned by Vietnamese customs (becuase of the large suitcase full of donated hopsital equipment). I thought of the many potential pitfalls. But as luck would have it, it has been a splendid trip here. Aside from no delays and no questions, I was delighted with with the comfort of international travel because of the small tv attached to the seat in front of me. Watching a handful of American movies and doing a bit of HSCV/mission work kept the time going by fast. Plus I was fed reasonably well (for airplane food) and kept hydrated and stretched, making the trip overall pleasant. Then finally, I arrived late last night in Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon for a short 36 hours visit with my family (before I head into Hanoi for the mission and visiting HSCV)

Vietnam is so much better than I had remembered. It has been 7 years since I have come back. The airport is clean, new and spacious. Previous trips, you stepped off the plane, descended down the stairs to a shuttle that took you to the baggage claim. No more, now there's the typical gate that leads you into the terminal. The roads are more developed and there are so many more cars in place of mopeheads. Yet there is so much that is familiar, inside the buildings and hotels there is still that lingering smell of smoke, there is still the street merchants selling food late into the night, and it is still shockingly hot when you step out those airport doors. I woke up this morning (at 6:30 am mind you) to find four local men playing cards, gambling, and smoking cigarettes in the lobby. They were kind enough to invite me to join, but I politely declined. This is the Vietnam that brings a smile to my face, just feels so pleasantly and simply being among friends that I've missed for a long time. Feels like sort of a homecoming!

Ready or not, here we come!

The hotel is reserved, vaccinations are done, airline tickets purchased, airport pick up is arranged, and my bags are well, sort of packed! Over all, I think we're ready... I think. There's been lots of planning and meetings to prepare, but they tell me even with all the planning something is bound to change. And it has, a few times already. But that is expected, and I suppose it keeps it exciting.

There's more work done to prep for a mission than I could have ever imagined. And I've really only seen a small fraction of it. It is work to get donated equipment into the country, coordinating various traveling schedules, getting over 20 education documents translated into Vietnamese. There's so much more, but everyone does it with passion and excitement for the mission.

And that's partly why I am so excited; to meet these passionate people that put two weeks of their life aside to travel across the world to do a great deed. There's 33 of us in total! Everything from doctors, nurses, EMTs, translators, and a few non medical people like me. And then there's HSCV and CardioStart staff; they've gone out of the way to make arrangements and provide important information. We're lucky to be so well taken care of.

Then, there's also the people that have been indirectly involved that I've been thinking about so much lately. I am so appreciative of the support from our families and friends, those who have helped to fundraise, those who have donated, those who have just given words of encouragement and advice. In about a week, we will arrive in Vietnam coming from all across the world to work on making a real difference, with your help.

I hope to keep you updated on all the events of our time there! Come back and check often!

PS to learn about last year's mission, read the blog: http://www.vietnammedicalmission2009.blogspot.com/