Kingston, Jamaica. Tuesday, January 28, 2025: 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 performed from January 17 to 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.
Dr. Sherard Little, Cardiac Surgeon (left) at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, and Professor Jeffrey Jacobs (right), Professor of Surgery and Paediatrics at the UF Health Congenital Heart Center and UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, and former Cardiac Surgeon at Johns Hopkins University, perform life-saving open-heart surgery on one of the 14 patients during the cardiac mission at the Bustamante Hospital for Children from January 17 to 21, 2025.
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