meet our patients

When Haitian Hearts diagnoses a person with a heart problem, they go on our waiting list. The next big task is to find a hospital willing to treat the patient. We have located hospitals for some of the patients described below. For others, we are still searching.

Oniste before and after

Oniste - Three years ago, Oniste had a small bump on her forehead. Untreated, it grew to the size you see pictured. This tumor was fast taking her health, and it would soon take her life. Haitian Hearts was able to bring her to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado in July 2013 where Dr. Wayne Yakes and other surgeons and physicians were able to help Oniste, who has a 3-year-old daughter. She is on the road to recovery! Read More...

Mimose

Mimose - She is another former Haitian Hearts patient who had had a tumor removed from her jaw several years ago. She needed follow up surgery, and in March 2013 we brought her to St. Vincent's in Indianapolis where her jaw was successfully repaired. At Haitian Hearts, we take pride in following our patients after surgery to help them stay healthy. Read More...

Willgesta

Willgesta - Dr. John discovered 18-month-old Willgesta when he was working at a clinic in Cite Soleil. She is the youngest of six children. Like Woodson, she has a congenital heart defect. We are currently searching for a hospital for Willgesta. Read More...

Mona - In the United States, children born with congenital heart defects have them repaired in infancy. This isn't the case in Haiti. Meet Mona, a 30-year-old woman with a defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. Most children with this problem do not live past adolescence if it is not repaired. Mona is a lovely woman with a gentle demeanor who will live many more years if her heart is repaired.

Jessica - On his October 2009 trip, John taught a class of nurses in Les Cayes, Haiti. One day after class, one of the nurses brought in her five-year-old daughter for John to examine. He detected a heart murmur, indicating a defect, in beautiful Jessica's heart. Jessica is our most recent addition to our list of waiting patients.

Marie

Marie - This former Haitian Hearts patient contacted us in March 2013 when she was critically ill with congestive heart failure. We made arrangements with Edward Heart Hospital in Naperville and Dr. Bryan Foy for Marie to have major heart surgery. Thanks to heroic efforts on the part of the physicians, the hospital, and Marie, she made it through the surgery and recovery and is now able to enjoy life. Read More...

Woodson

Woodson - He is an 8-year-old boy who was born with a congenital heart defect. We were able to locate a hospital in Florida and Woodson is scheduled to have surgery in January 2014. Having a healthy heart will be a wonderful way to start the year! Read More...

Widerlande - We first met Widnerlande in 2004. Her mother brought her to a clinic where John was working and an echocardiogram revealed that she had a heart defect. Widerlande's family lives in a rural part of Haiti, where doctors and clinics are rare. However, this challenge has not kept her mother from obtaining medical care for her daughter, even when it means traveling great distances. Widnerlande had successful heart surgery at Sutter Memorial Medical Center in Sacramento on January 23, 2011.

Medjina - Many Haitians and Americans working in Haiti know of Haitian Hearts and often bring us patients. Such was the case with Medjina, a seven-year-old girl with a damaged heart valve. Medjina had successful heart surgery at St. Louis Children's Hospital.