Mondesir and Request OSF's Mike Cruz--February 2015

Dear Mike,

Mondesir is a 40-year-old Haitian man. He is a Haitian Hearts patient and an OSF patient.

Mondesir (Photo by John Carroll)

Mondesir was operated at OSF—SFMC in Peoria in 1998. He had a Ross procedure to replace his aortic valve.

His heart surgery gave him 16 good years that he would not have had. However, he needs heart surgery again because his aortic valve is leaky again. I have all his clinical information and a digital up-to-date echocardiogram.

Mondesir is the father of two boys ages three and six years.

Would you remove the unethical and harmful embargo placed on my Haitian Hearts patients and allow Mondesir to return to OSF-SFMC for the surgery? It is very difficult to find other medical centers to operate Mondesir and without repeat heart surgery he will die.

Haitian Hearts will provide his visa, travel to and from Peoria, his host family in the Peoria area, his outpatient medication, and we can offer up to $10,000 for his inpatient care at OSF-SFMC.

Before he left Peoria in 1998 Mondesir met with Sister Canisia in her office to express his gratitude to her for taking care of him. Please do the right thing, Mike, and allow Mondesir to return to Peoria for repeat heart surgery. His wife and his little boys need him.

I will await your response.

Thank you.

John

Comment in 2015

September 7, 2015

I did not hear back from Mike Cruz or anyone from OSF in Peoria.

However, the good news is that Mondesir was accepted by another medical center, was operated, recovered well, and is back in Haiti with his family.

john