PETOSKEY — In May of 2012, McLaren Northern Michigan registered nurse Vianney Ruhumuliza — who works in cardiology — and his wife, Cairn, were working in his native Rwanda.
Cairn began having chest pains, so the couple went to the emergency room of one of the best hospitals in Rwanda for assessment.
“We didn’t really get the treatment we were looking for as there was no in-depth cardiac assessment capability available,” Ruhumuliza said. “I finally connected with one of the two cardiologists in Rwanda and after a quick assessment he prescribed some nitrites medications and sent her home.”
Ruhumuliza, having been a cardiac nurse for an extensive period of time, knew there was more to this sudden chest pain than what was showing on the EKG.
Later that evening, the couple made arrangements to leave the country as quickly as possible for the United States to seek further treatment.
“It was a very stressful and anxiety-producing trip as we didn’t know how serious her conditions was,” Ruhumuliza said. “As soon as we got in the USA, we went to the emergency room where she was admitted to the hospital under the care of cardiologists.”
A complete battery of cardiac and other assessments were done, including a cardiac stress test, a CT scan to look for pulmonary emboli, serial ECG tracings and multiple laboratory diagnostics. The following day Cairn had a heart catheterization and it was discovered 75 percent of her left anterior descending artery was obstructed.
A cardiac stent was placed and she was discharged within 24 hours on an ongoing cardiac regimen.
“Now she is back to work full time and feeling fine, although her cardiac status is monitored regularly,” Ruhumuliza said.
“I do now want to paint the other scenario — if we did not have a choice to come to the cardiac care services, but definitely she will not be here today to continue to contribute in society.
“Mostly, I am blessed that I did not lose my love, my friend and my wife.”
Following the episode, Ruhumuliza decided he wanted to contribute to his birth country so people have the chance to receive the highest-quality cardiac care when a cardiac event happens.
Ruhumuliza and his executive team with Helping Hands for Rwanda are envisioning a robust and effective Beck Cardiac Centre in Rwanda, which will offer the highest quality cardiac care in the region.
The center will serve Rwanda and later on, it will expand to the entire East African community.
The center’s mission is to establish itself in Rwanda so it is sustainable to care for cardiac disease in the country while maintaining international standards for cardiac care.
“I want to make sure that Rwanda has the best health care possible, so I am enlisting the best cardiologists I know and they are here at McLaren Northern Michigan,” Ruhumuliza said.
Beck Medical Centre has acquired a plot of land in Nyamata, which is located about 13 miles from the city of Kigali. It is intended on this site, the center will be developed in phases with the first phase being a complete functioning clinic.
The center is a subsidiary of Helping Hands for Rwanda, which is a U.S. registered 501©3 non-profit organization since 2011.
For more information regarding the center or to help fund the project, visit www.hhfr.org, or call Ruhumuliza at (269) 362-1006 or email vianneyruhu@hhfr.org.
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