Life changing surgeries for two young Timorese women
St John of God Geelong Hospital gives life changing heart surgery for two young Timorese women.
8 Jul 2022
The pair, 19-year-old Joana and 35-year-old Maria, had life-changing cardiac surgeries at St John of God Geelong Hospital recently to address issues after they were identified by the East Timor Hearts Fund.
Joana, who had a hole between the upper chambers of her heart, needed surgery as her condition was progressively getting worse and left untreated, it could damage her heart and lungs and shorten her life.
Maria, who is a mother of five children, had severe rheumatic heart valve disease which made it difficult and painful for her to breathe, and affected all aspects of her life. When she was seven months pregnant with twins, she developed heart failure and thought she would not live to see her children grow up.
East Timor Hearts Fund is Australia’s only medical non-government organisation solely focused on treating and preventing life-threatening rheumatic heart disease in Timor-Leste, where there is very limited access to cardiac specialist medical care and surgery in Timor-Leste.
St John of God Geelong Hospital Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr Cheng-Hon Yap, supported by a team of cardiac specialists, nurses and allied health professionals, undertook the surgery and supported the pair during their recovery in the hospital’s intensive care and coronary care units.
“We are so proud to have played an important role in an incredible chain of people and organisations who have worked incredibly hard to make these surgeries happen,” St John of God Geelong Hospital Chief Executive Officer Stephen Roberts said.
“I’m so pleased we can support Dr Cheng-Hon and have enabled Joana’s and Maria’s surgeries to take place. We are hoping this will change their lives and provide them a much improved quality of life.”
East Timor Hearts Fund Chief Executive Jane Papasergio thanked the hospital and Dr Cheng-Hon for supporting the women.
“We are so grateful to our wonderful donors, volunteers and St John of God Geelong Hospital for helping to save Maria’s and Joana’s lives. Our life-changing work is only possible thanks to your support,” she said.
Now back in Timor-Leste after her successful surgery, Maria is looking forward to being able to look after and play with her children and studying to gain business skills.
“Thank you very much for the donors and doctors that saved my life by making my surgery possible,” Maria.
Joana is now looking forward to pursuing her studies to become an engineer and also being able to help her parents with chores at home.
“On behalf of my parents and all my family, thank you very much for your big help to support my operation in Australia,” Joana said.
St John of God Health Care has a long-standing relationship with the health care system in Timor-Leste having operated a Nursing Development Program in country since 2010. The program aims to improve the quality of patient care across hospitals in Timor-Leste and is centred around the major teaching hospital in Dili.
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