While all medical care offered by Operation International teams changes and improves the lives of patients, perhaps the most urgent cases are those where surgery is not only pivotal, but life or death.

That was the case for all eight of the cases encountered by OI’s newest cardiac team, who successfully completed their inaugural mission in Kenya in early May. Team Indiana Hearts brought an entire, fully functional cardiac surgery operating room team to perform eight valve surgeries at Kenyatta University Hospital in Nairobi. With each procedure, they provided not just an improvement, but a second chance at life.

“The patients we treated were individuals who had completely reached the end of their road, suffering from advanced heart conditions without access to the specialized care required to survive,” said co-team leader Dr. Amjad Syed. “Many of them had been waiting for several years just for the opportunity to have surgery on their hearts, living in a state of fragile health and uncertainty. Because our team stepped in when time was running out, those years of agonizing waiting are finally over.”

Lives Saved

While valve replacements are typically considered routine for cardiac surgical teams, performing them in the Kenyan hospital was a new adventure for the dedicated group of volunteers.

“The greatest challenges came in the postoperative care for recovering patients in a setting with limited resources, equipment, medications, and staffing,” said co-team leader Christine Rullo, PA.

The experience was deeply humbling, team leaders said.

“It was incredible to witness how the local team operates every day with minimal resources,” Dr. Syed added. “They possess talent, intellect, and dedication, and it became vividly clear that they could perform exponentially more life-saving surgeries if they were simply blessed with better infrastructure and modern equipment.”

Despite the challenges, all eight surgeries were completed with successful outcomes. And, their impact on the patients was clear.

One of the most memorable patients, Christine noted, was a 26- year- old woman who had lived for 13 years with severe mitral valve stenosis, or a narrowing of the mitral valve that restricts the heart’s blood flow. Because of her condition she had never been able to live a normal, active life and dreamed of running without being short of breath. Following her surgery, the woman was able to walk for the first time in 13 years without breathing difficulties.

Another unforgettable patient was the first patient operated on during the mission, Christine said. The patient had spent much of the year hospitalized due to complications from his severe mitral stenosis. His surgery was successful with a mitral valve replacement, and both he and his family expressed overwhelming gratitude that we would no longer need repeated hospital admissions for treatment.

Knowledge Shared

As with all OI missions, the impact of Team Indiana Hearts’ trip extended far beyond the patients. Team Indiana Hearts’ volunteers and local staff completed profound educational exchange during the mission.

Local OR nurses, cardiac surgeons, and training fellows from both the cardiac surgery and anesthesia, as well as perfusionists, worked side-by-side with the U.S. team to train directly in the complex valve replacement procedures. In particular, ICU nurses offered training to local staff on postoperative medications, sternal precautions, early mobilization, and pulmonary hygiene. They also introduced new resources including gait belts for patient assistance and incentive spirometers, which can reduce pulmonary complications.

“We were grateful for the opportunity to share protocols, techniques, and experiences, but we also returned home having learned just as much from them,” said Team Indiana Hearts volunteer Angela Malin, RN. “Their perseverance and commitment to their patients despite limited resources served as a powerful reminder of why we entered healthcare in the first place.”

Team Indiana Hearts also donated a specialized surgical instrument, including Ronguers, a Cosgrove retractor, Debakey instruments, Cross clamps, and surgical scissors to help the local team sustain their growing skillset.

Final Reflections

A monumental effort of this magnitude requires a massive logistical, material, and financial push, and it truly took a village to bring it to fruition, said Dr. Syed. The team leaders would like to extend their deepest, most sincere gratitude to the pillars of this mission:

• The Dox Foundation and Operation International, for their incredible organization, guidance, and foundational support.
• Edwards Lifesciences and Abbott Valves, for providing the critical, specialized medical devices and equipment necessary to perform these complex surgeries.
• The Beacon Foundation and the Midwest Cardiovascular Research and Education Foundation, for their vital financial commitment to global health and clinical training.
• Each and every donor, no matter how big or small the contribution; your generosity translated directly into a sustained heartbeat and a transformed future.
• Every member of  my group "Team Indiana Hearts" and their families, who supported them through the long hours, prep work, and time away from home.
• Team Kenya, whose warmth, collaboration, hospitality, and astute clinical minds made us feel at home and enabled us to work as one unified team.
• Most importantly, the patients in Kenya, who trusted us with their lives, inspired us with their resilience, and gave our entire team unforgettable, lifetime memories.