Every Heartbeat Matters

On a recent trip, Team Heart visited with several patients, but one remarkable young man has defied the odds. Innocent was 16 years of age when he had life-changing heart surgery in 2018. He had lived with extended family near Kigali because his deteriorating healthcare, due to rheumatic heart disease and it could not be managed from the remote village of his birth. His smile and open trust won over the hearts of every Team Heart member, when he was selected for surgical care.

Innocent has gone on to share his story with others about preventing rheumatic heart disease and giving back to his community. He was fortunate to receive culinary training after high school. During a following trip, Team Hearts cardiac anesthesiologist, Martin Zammert, who provided his care at surgery, shared a powerful reference to help secure an internship for Innocent at an esteemed restaurant in Kigali! Following his internship, he was hired by the new 5-star hotel, Pinnacle, in Kigali, as part of the cooking staff. Recently, the hotel manager encouraged him to apply to a university and pursue his dream of earning a degree in hospitality.