It’s day one of a very special visit to La Paz, Bolivia for the Gift of Life International team! With a brand new Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU), as well as procedures being conducted at Clinica Obrajes and Hospital del Niño, this visit has got so much going on and we have so much to look forward to!
Gift of Life International utilized the donations we received to build this new care unit. Thank you for helping make this vision a reality.
We also extend our deepest gratitude to the City of La Paz (SEDES) for funding construction and to our incredible global network of partners—Gift of Life Florida, Gift of Life Rotary District 7505, Gift of Life Metro New York, Gift of Life New Jersey, Gift of Life Long Island, Gift of Life Rotary District 7490, Gift of Life Central New York, Corazones Chiquitos, Hospital del Niño, and Herz Bewegt in Austria—for funding the essential equipment for the new ICU.
Heartfelt Reunions & Introductions:
The GOLI team joins Dr. Ericka Perez (a local pediatric cardiac surgeon) on stage in the auditorium at Hospital del Niño.
Gift of Life International CEO, Rob Raylman, with help from pediatric cardiac surgeon, Dr. Rodrigo Soto, acting as his translator, shared words of gratitude and encouragement to the families waiting for screenings at Hospital del Niño.
To begin the day, our GOLI team arrived at Hospital del Niño around 8:45 AM this morning. Upon arriving, we were greeted by members of the local team.
Dr. Abe Rothman, an interventional cardiologist on the GOLI team, speaks to the crowd at Hospital del Niño.
These local individuals have become dear friends of the team at GOLI, as well as colleagues, and it is heart-warming seeing them time and time again on these visits to La Paz. After warm welcomes and hellos, the GOLI team was brought into an auditorium where local families were being given information about the Gift of Life International program and what the day was to bring.
Part of the GOLI team stands to the side of the crowd after getting a group picture taken.
The GOLI team was brought onto the stage at the front of the auditorium to be introduced to these local families. As the GOLI team looked out at the children and their families in the crowd, they felt heartened and eager to begin the week!
Part of the GOLI team listening to the director of the hospital share his enthusiasm regarding the week ahead.
The optimism for the week ahead was palpable as both teams looked forward to the impact they would make together!
Gift of Life International CEO, Rob Raylman, expressing enthusiasm and gratitude back to the director of the hospital.
First Look at the Newly Completed ICU:
Following the meeting with the director of the hospital, it was finally time for the moment the team had been waiting so patiently and eagerly for. Our GOLI team got to view the brand new pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PICU) for the very first time since its completion!
The GOLI team’s first look at the new cardiac PICO in Hospital del Niño.
The new cardiac pediatric ICU in Hospital del Niño is a project that those at Gift of Life International have worked tirelessly on and could not be more excited about the fact that it is finally completed and ready to be put to use!
The brand new bed setups in the new cardiac PICU at Hospital del Niño.
The completion of this PICU would not have been possible without our donors from Gift of Life organizations around the country as well as Herz Bewegt in Austria, Corazones Chiquitos, and Hospital del Niño. The unit cost $250,000 (it took an entire year to raise the funds) and took two months to build!
Here is Dr. Jessica Ascencio, nurse Allison Reilly, and Dr. Farzana Alfroze unboxing some supplies.
Within the PICU there are four new critical care beds with oxygen and suction systems for each bed, as well as 4 new patient monitors. There are also 24 infusion pumps, 2 ventilators, 1 crash cart, and 1 defibrillator. Hospital del Niño built the PICU, and none of the planning, organization, and funding would have been even near possible without the wonderful Karla Patzi!
Pictured here is nurse John Albers, Dr. James Hortsmann, and Dr. Farzana Alfroze unboxing supplies in the OR.
Karla is the executive coordinator and representative for Gift of Life International at Hospital del Niño and an incredible asset to the GOLI team.
Today our volunteer team had to unpack, unwrap, organize, and count all of the supplies that had been shipped here prior to our arrival in order to get the unit prepared for the patients that will be arriving beginning tomorrow.
Nurse Sarah Linton, Dr. Jessica Asencio, and nurse Allison Reilly help to organize and test supplies.
Dr. Horstmann and nurse Sarah Linton learn about new equipment from two local medical equipment representatives.
Prepping for the Week Ahead:
While our dedicated team of volunteer and local nurses completed the stocking, organization, and prepping of the PICU, our just as dedicated team of surgeons, cardiologists, and interventionists (both volunteer and local as well) screened the children who will be undergoing procedures this week!
Our team will perform six surgeries this week. One surgery per day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and two surgeries on Wednesday (six total)! We will also be performing procedures in the cardiac catheterization lab located in Clinica Obrajes (a separate clinic from Hospital del Niño). The cath lab will help heal around twenty little hearts during this visit!
Dr. Oscar Ballivianan (a local doctor) and Dr. Rodrgio Soto (GOLI’s pediatric cardiac surgeon) examine a cardiac echocardiogram.
Dr. Rodrigo Soto and the local team of surgeons including Dr. Oscar Ballivian, and Dr. Juan Carlos Oyola screened the children who will be having surgeries in the OR. Meanwhile, Dr. Nicolas Ortiz, Dr. Abe Rothman, Dr. Harm Velvis (all volunteers), and Dr. Jesus Pozo (a local doctor) screened the children who will receive procedures done in the catheterization lab!
Dr. Jesus Pozo, Dr. Harm Velvis, and Dr. Nicolas Ortiz examine an echocardiogram for a child who could potentially need an operation in the catheterization lab.
Screenings, set up of the cardiac PICU, and preparation of the catheterization lab have gone smoothly, and everyone could not be more excited about the opening of the new cardiac PICU.
Dr. Nicolas Ortiz and Dr. Abe Rothman screening a child for a potential cath lab procedure.
After the completion of a successful and inspiring first day, an optimistic attitude buzzes in the air, and our team of volunteers and locals are thrilled to see what the rest of the week brings!
Rob Raylman is the Chief Executive officer for Gift of Life International. He assumed this role in 2008.
Rob is a life-long resident of New York State. He graduated Hobart College in 1984 with a BS in Political Science. Over the years, he worked for US Senator Alfonse D’Amato and held the position of Vice President for Browning-Ferris Industries (at the time, the second largest international solid waste company in the world). In 2008, Rob created the position of CEO for Gift of Life International. Since then, he was visited 38 countries on 5 continents to build the Gift of Life Global Network of 84 affiliates. During Rob’s tenure with Gift of Life International, 30 affiliates have been created while over 35,000 children have received care for their heart defects.
Rob focuses on strategically building bridges between Gift of Life programs, foreign Governments, Rotary Clubs and Districts, like-minded organizations and hospital administrations in order to address the Global Crisis of congenital heart defects.
