David's Pacer
In the early days of October 1997, I received a case report regarding David Nelson from Mollie Bliss. Mr. Nelson is a worker in a garment factory who lives in the outskirts of La Romana and the son of Haitian immigrants. He had always been in good health and maintained normal activity. Seven months ago he had collapsed while playing basketball. Following this he had been unable to maintain all normal activity. Four months ago he had a severe episode of nausea and vomiting. He continued to experience a good deal of shortness of breath on exertion; such as climbing stairs. His chest x ray showed general cardiac enlargement and his EKG showed complete heart block with a heart rate of 30. (normal 60-85)
I contacted Rev Jean Luc who verified the condition of David. As a result, I contacted the finance office of the RI Hospital and spoke with Chrysanthe Stamoulis, vice president of Patient Services. After explaining the urgency of David's problem and the need for prompt implantation of a cardiac pacemaker, she contacted the appropriate hospital officials and within two days confirmed that RI Hospital would underwrite the total cost of his hospitalization. A letter was sent to the US Consulate in Santo Domingo RD requesting a visa to the US for urgent medical care.
At that same time I contacted Dr.. Raymond Riley, senior cardiologist at R.I Hospital who verified the complete heart block and stressed the urgent need
for a pacemaker implantation. The exact cause of the heart block could not be ascertained. Dr. Riley referred me to Dr. Frederic Christian who has over twenty years experience. He immediately agreed to the pacemaker insertion without charge. He wrote to Bio-Med Technology requesting a dual chamber pacemaker to be donated. The company graciously agreed.
for a pacemaker implantation. The exact cause of the heart block could not be ascertained. Dr. Riley referred me to Dr. Frederic Christian who has over twenty years experience. He immediately agreed to the pacemaker insertion without charge. He wrote to Bio-Med Technology requesting a dual chamber pacemaker to be donated. The company graciously agreed.
In November, 1997, I went to La Romana as a representative from the RI Baptist Convention for the dedication of the Good Samaritan Hospital.. While there I examined David and confirmed his heart block with a pulse of 36. His visa was granted and David and Jean Luc flew to New York on November 30 and traveled to Rhode Island. He stayed with Emma Sue and me and was obviously limited in his physical abilities.
On Friday December 5, he was admitted and greeted by Christinia, a Spanish speaking nurse. At 7:30 David was moved to the OR suite. Jean Luc and I were dressed in surgical gowns and masks. The operation was performed under local anesthesia. The procedure lasted one and a half hours. David had three episodes of asystole requiring acute therapy. David remained conscious throughout. As the electrodes were disconnected from his chest, David said "I am a new man!" Jean Luc assisted with the translation throughout. David enjoyed watching basketball and football on the television. He recovered completely and was discharged. Dr. Christian felt that had this procedure not been performed, his life expectancy was limited to several months. There was considerable joy among the nurses and staff at the hospital that they had been able to bring David to Providence and had cured him of his life- threatening illness. The entire week was one of great joy and outpouring of love. There was no question that our Lord was guiding the hands of all who took part in this experience. All the people at the RI Hospital was extremely generous and are to be commended. Having Jean Luc and David in our home was a wonderful and never to be forgotten experience.
David returned to the Dominican Republic on December 9, 1997. Jean Luc reported that David was very healthy able to do anything he wanted to. He hopes to learn English and perhaps to be a translator in the future. His wound healed well and his local cardiologist said he has a pacemaker like a Mercedes. I last saw David this past February, 1999. He is very healthy and is successfully doing everything with no shortness of breath or any physical problem.. He may need a new battery in his pacemaker in ten years but he should be alive and well for at least 40 more years.
To quote Jean Luc, "Praise the Lord!".
Submitted by
Eli Wing MD
