Our Village: A week of team work in Nicaragua

11/15/2024

After over two decades of traveling to Central America to support interventional cardiologists on their journey to becoming self-sustaining, Dr. Michael Womack's cardiology mission in Managua has become a center of collaboration for an alliance of Central American colleagues. Returning to Nicaragua for the second time this year, and working with Nicaraguan interventionalists Dr. Mireya Araica and Dr. Christian Ramirez, as well as Panamanian Dr. Aldo Campos and Costa Rican Dr. Rafael Gutierrez, Dr. Womack and the team completed a record 15 complex lifesaving procedures, in just one week. They were also joined by first-time mission member Dr. Nestor Flores, a promising Nicaraguan pediatric cardiologist whose expertise and dedication were instrumental.

However, the mission was almost derailed just as it began when the fluoroscopy system—a critical tool for capturing real-time moving images of the heart and blood vessels—malfunctioned. This halted a slate of complex cases that were scheduled and sent us back to the drawing board, jeopardizing our schedule and upsetting the patients and families who were hopeful to receive their procedures…but fate intervened. Philips Senior Solutions Specialist Dean Rindlishbach, who happened to be visiting the hospital, learned what had happened and immediately stepped in, quickly repairing the machine. Thanks to Dean's heroically timely support, we were able to quickly reset and mend as planned.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of every volunteer and partner for facing up to the challenges and making this mission a resounding success. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to Abbott, Medshare, Bear Givers, Teleflex, BBraun, Merit Medical, Naomi and her Mending 1000 Heart Campaign, Terumo, Philips, Rivas Opstaele, Carmela de Brouwer, Robyn Ross, and Michael Nadlman.

With every mission, we're reminded that it takes a village to mend hearts and that together, we're building a self-sustaining future for children in Central America. Thank you to all who make this work possible and thank you for keeping our kids in your thoughts and making their lives matter.