Steve Bash Letter re Haitian Hearts

Below is a letter written by Dr. Stephen Bash extolling the virtues of the Haitian Hearts program. It was written one year before I was fired from OSF and two years from the time OSF cut all funding for Haitian kids. 

Pediatric Cardiology

William H. Albers, M.D. J.J. Shah, M.D.

Stephen E. Bash, M.D. Douglas J. Schneider, M.D.

November 17, 2000

Representative Ray LaHood

100 N.E. Monroe Rm 100

Peoria, II 61602

Dear Representative LaHood:

I am writing to you in support of the Haitian Heart Program, sponsored by the Children's Hospital of Illinois at OSF/St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Our group, Pediatric Cardiology Associates, has been giving free care to these children over the past ten years.

Dr. John Carroll, Emergency Department physician at OSF, has on his own gone to Haiti and screened the children who had potential fixable congenital heart disease, and has brought them back to the Children's Hospital of Illinois for corrective surgery. These children have life threatening congenital heart disease, for which they would have no chance of survival, or limited chance of survival, if left uncorrected.

We have an arrangement with the pediatric cardiovascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, intensivists, and our group to provide for these children free of charge. There is a basic cost involved at the Children's Hospital which is necessary to allow us to continue to treat these children. OSF and the Children's Hospital have the policy of treating all children who are in need.

Dr. Carroll has been superb in screening these children in Haiti, and picking out the once that we have the best chance of correcting the heart defect, allowing these children to survive. He needs support in order for us to help carry on this mission.

Any help that you can give to us so that we can allow this program to continue would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely and Best Regards,

Stephen E. Bash, M.D.

Pediatric Cardiologist