Patient and Nurse Education is Vital

Above, Suellen Breakey with patient Djuma and physiotherapist Emmanuel Muganwa.
Before patients go into the Operating Room, Suellen Breakey, PhD, RN, educates them about what will happen during surgery, what to expect in the intensive care unit and how they will feel afterward. The patients and their families exclaim in excitement when Suellen hands them a booklet of information translated into Kinyarwandan, their native language.

“The patients are surprised and excited to see that the books are in their language and translated perfectly,” Suellen said, adding that the books are helpful in teaching King Faisal’s nurses about heart surgery as well.

The books were translated by Egidia Rugwizangoga, RN, a BWH nurse and native of Rwanda. Although Egidia was not able to join us on this inaugural mission, she has been one of our greatest supporters. Her guidance and many insights are vital to the success of this mission, and words cannot express our gratitude to her.
Above, Egidia Rugwizangoga, center, with Leslie Sabatino and Ceeya Patton-Bolman at a February fundraiser for Team Heart in Boston.