Dr. Sherard Little, Cardiac Surgeon (left), Bustamante Hospital for Children, and Dr. Vinay Bhadwar, Cardiac Surgeon (left), Health Sciences Directory of the West Virginia University, perform life-saving open-heart surgery on one of the 14 patients during the cardiac mission at the Bustamante Hospital for Children recently.
Fourteen children battling congenital heart disease have been given a second chance at life, thanks to a remarkable medical mission led by Professor Jeffrey Jacobs, Professor of Surgery and Paediatrics in the UF Health Congenital Heart Centre and UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital and former Cardiac Surgeon, of Johns Hopkins University. Prof Jacobs is also founder and chairman of the Cardiac Kids Foundation of Florida which led the team of over 50 volunteers. The surgeries were on January 17-21, 2025, at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
Collaborating with Dr. Sherard Little, Cardiac Surgeon and his talented local cardiac and nursing teams at the Bustamante Hospital for Children’s Paediatric Cardiac Centre; the team performed 14 life-saving open-heart surgeries in just one week.
This extraordinary mission was supported by the donation of critical medical equipment, including heater-cooler machines, heart-lung machines, and cell saver machines. These contributions, alongside the team’s expertise and hands-on training, have strengthened the hospital’s capacity to continue delivering high-quality cardiac care to heart sick our patients.
The success of this mission was made possible through the combined efforts of Bustamante Hospital for Children, The Blood Bank, Cardiac Kids Foundation of Florida, and their supporting partners. Chain of Hope Jamaica played a vital role in coordinating the mission’s activities, ensuring a seamless and impactful effort to save these young lives.
Professor Jacobs and his team’s compassion and commitment have not only transformed the lives of 14 children and their families but have also left a lasting impact on the healthcare system through knowledge-sharing and resource enhancement. This initiative underscores the power of collaboration and the shared mission of mending little hearts and transforming lives.
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