March to October: Following up with our Costa Rican patients!
In March 2022, Heart to Heart conducted our first surgical-educational cardiac training mission to the Carlos Saenz Herrera National Children’s Hospital in San Jose, Costa Rica. Our cardiac team comprised 10 specialists representing each of the vital components of pediatric medicine: cardiology, surgery, anesthesia, perfusion, and intensive care. We focused our teaching and training on treatment of valvular heart disease, with a particular emphasis on the Ross Procedure. Working alongside our Costa Rican colleagues, the joint team performed four open heart surgeries, repairing or replacing a total of seven valves.
After a successful mission in March, we kept in close contact with our new colleagues and began planning a training mission scheduled for October. Our shared goal was to focus on cardiology and intensive care for pediatric cardiac patients. Additionally, we were pleased to have the opportunity to provide follow-up examinations for the patients we operated on together in March.
Below are the stories of the four patients operated on by the joint team with a brief update after we were able to perform follow-up exams on them in October. Although these young patients will require future valve replacements as they grow older, they now have the chance to live long, healthy lives.
Camil P.
We met Camil in March when she became our first surgical patient, undergoing a Ross Procedure to correct her aortic stenosis. Camil lives with her mother, father, and two siblings in Coto Brus, Costa Rica, a six-hour drive from the capital city of San Jose. She was diagnosed with aortic stenosis at the Saenz National Children’s Hospital soon after a heart murmur was detected at the time of her birth. Her mother describes feeling “a terrible anxiety...the first thing I thought was that she would die.” Throughout the first few years of Camil’s life, the family would make the 12-hour round trip to San Jose every month so she could receive cardiac care. On March 14, 2022, high-spirited Camil became the first surgical patient of the Heart to Heart-Saenz team collaboration. She was the first Ross Procedure patient for the Saenz team’s lead surgeon, Margarita Camacho.
Today, we are happy to report that Camil is in good spirits and in great condition. She has grown and gained weight and is energetic as ever. After her examination, she made sure to apologize to the cardiologists for coming a day late; her father explained that due to extreme weather conditions, the six-hour drive had turned into a 12-hour drive and the family hadn’t been able to come to their scheduled appointment one day prior. Her father also noted that Camil is much more calm attending her cardiology appointments, now that she has already undergone her big surgery. (Camil was also especially excited to show her mom the stuffed unicorn gifted to her by our partners from Edwards Lifesciences!)
Read her full story here.
Alonso A.
Seven-year-old Alonso also underwent a Ross Procedure during our surgical-educational mission in March. Alonso lives in San Jose, Costa Rica with his parents and twin brother, Andres. His mother, Rebeca, is a stay-at-home mom and his father, Marvin, a surgical assistant in ophthalmology.
Alonso was diagnosed with aortic stenosis just two days after he and his twin brother were born through an emergency Cesarean. Although his parents try not to let Alonso’s condition hold him back, they could see him tire out quickly when playing with his brother and knew that he couldn’t play sports like he wished he could. After years of waiting, on March 15, 2022, Alonso finally underwent open heart surgery, the Ross Procedure. Alonso recovered quickly after his surgery and left the hospital by the end of the week, excited to return home to play with his twin brother.
We were glad to have the opportunity to examine him in October – his prognosis remains positive and he has grown quite a bit in just six months! Alonso’s family was overjoyed to see our team once again working alongside Costa Rican specialists and they happily stood for a photo with Heart to Heart cardiologist, Frank Cetta (shown above on right).
Read his full story here.
Josue R.
Josue was adopted at two months of age after having already undergone one heart surgery. He lives with his parents and an older sister in Alajuela, a province neighboring San Jose. Josue’s mother describes him as “Brave, loving, special – a warrior. ” Born with pulmonary atresia, Josue’s heart lacked a pulmonary valve and struggled to pump blood to his lungs. His family was told he would not be able to walk, but fortunately, this prognosis did not become reality. He underwent his first heart operation as an infant and then, several years later, he underwent another surgery, the Glenn Procedure. Josue was then operated on by the joint Heart to Heart-Saenz team on March 16, 2022. His open heart surgery proved to be more complicated than anticipated: he was on the operating table for more than 12 hours and his recovery was slow and rocky.
The Heart to Heart team was overjoyed to see Josue looking healthy this October. Despite an extended stay in the ICU, Josue and his family remained resilient. His mother shared that his color changed noticeably after the surgery – his skin no longer has a bluish color to it. Today, he continues to be an active child and his family is profoundly grateful for their son’s good health.
Read his full story here.
Julian Z.
Julian is five years old and was born with truncus arteriosus. He lives with his parents, Karolina and Andres, in San Jose, Costa Rica. A cheerful, lively little boy, Julian loves to dance. He takes hip hop lessons and, according to his teacher, is one of the more playful children in his class.
Bubbly Julian was feeling a bit shy when we saw him, but his parents were grateful to see us – and excited to share that Julian was selected to be on national TV for Costa Rica’s teletón (a fundraiser for charitable causes across the country)! After undergoing a valve replacement surgery in March, Julian’s follow-up appointment indicated he’s doing well. His parents also noted that he is able to exercise more and is even more energetic than before!
Read his full story here.