MMC's PICU - Kenya for Kids Hearts 2023

In Kenya, it is estimated that fewer than 1 in every 1000 children that needs cardiac surgery will get it. For many years teams from Maine Medical Center have been going to Bomet, Kenya to perform surgery and teach at Tenwek Hospital in an attempt to improve these statistics. In November 2023 we will return once more to orchestrate a week of life saving heart surgery and to help the cardiac team and post operative team prepare for their own new hospital opening.

Lead by our cardiac surgeon Dr Reed Quinn and perfusionist Bob Groom, a trimmed down team of two nurses and two pediatric intensivists will be recovering the children. Our primary roll this time, perhaps the final time, is to educate. The PICU team will consists of nurses Wendy Scott and Melissa Schulz with intensivists Dr. Michael Ferguson and Dr. Stacie Peddy.

All team members are doing this in their own vacation time and are almost entirely self funded, though we are incredibly thankful that the flights are covered by Emirates and Samaritan's purse. However, licensing, vaccinations and medications, accommodation, food, and transport can cost each team member up to $2000 each. While we are all exceedingly excited at this opportunity, we are asking for your support in help with the financial burden associated with this great work. If you could take a moment to watch the video, look at the photos and consider donating, we would be forever grateful but more importantly, so would the children of Kenya. Thank you so much.