Big Hope for Tiny Hearts

Diane Beilfuss, RN, research nurse, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Teresa Patterson, RN, CCP, perfusionist, Circulation Technology, were part of a team of health care profes­sionals from allover the United States which performed 42 pediatric open heart proce­dures in Guatemala during October. This was the fifth trip to Guatemala organized through Heart Care International, a non-profit organization founded by Robert Michler, MD, chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and his wife, Sally. This special team has now performed a total of 176 operations.

"One father carried his son 18 miles to a road to get to the hospital," says Patterson.

"It was so touching to learn what this father had done for his son."

OSU Hospitals also contributed to this trip, including sending an additional heater/cooler for the heart lung machine after the team was already in Guatemala. Employees here "broke their backs to get one to us in two days," according to Patterson, who said Rich Davis, a veter­an of service trips to China and Honduras, was especial­ly instrumental. Beilfuss and Patterson agree on what had the great­est impact on them. "A child comes in blue and, following surgery, they're pink and they're better and you know they'll be healthier," 

The need is critical. One patient was operated on at three days old. "If the team hadn't been there, he would have died," Patterson shares.

Teresa Patterson, RN, CCp, perfusionist, was part of a team which performed42 pediatric open heart proce­dures in Guatemala during October: Organized through Heart Care International, the team was led by Robert Michler; MD, chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Originally published in Ohio State University's PULSE in December 1998.  Reprinted with permission.