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Massapequa Park resident caring for St. Francis patient from Haiti orphanage
Edwards' brother-in-law, Dr. Lionel Barrau, chief of nephrology at St. Francis, first met Patricia while visiting an orphanage in the impoverished island nation of Haiti. Tests showed that Patricia suffered from pulmonary valve stenosis, a condition which restricts the circulation of blood between the heart and lungs. As there were no medical facilities in Haiti that could treat this condition, Dr. Barrau arranged for Patricia to be flown to the U.S. On Dec. 19, Dr. Sean Levchuck, director of pediatric cardiology at St. Francis, performed the procedure, known as a catheterization. Inserting a slender tube through a vein in Patricia's leg, Levchuck then sent a balloon stent into Patricia's heart, using it to open the pulmonary valve. This allowed for proper blood flow from the heart to the lungs. Dr. Levchuck believes Patricia will now live a longer, healthier life. "Our hope in cases like this is to avoid open-heart surgery, and we've succeeded," said Dr. Levchuck. "For us, the best Christmas gift is one that gives our patients a new lease on life. This is what we live for - to help our patients, especially children like Patricia." Edwards said, "When Patricia first came to me on Dec. 7, her breathing was labored. Now, her breathing is fine. She has energy now, just like any other little girl." Edwards will continue to care for Patricia through March, when Patricia's temporary visa While some have expressed interest in adopting little Patricia, she would still need to return to Haiti, where the adoption process would be completed. "I will miss her come March," said Edwards. "I got attached the first weekend we met." Edwards added, "A few people in the neighborhood donated things. I told a woman from the Massapequa Park post office about what I am doing, and she gave me bags of clothing and toys." The Mercy and Sharing Foundation, a Colorado based organization that operates the orphanage where Patricia lived, arranged for her to be flown to the United States and the Nicholas J. Vizza Memorial Fund for Pediatrics paid for her medical care. Anyone interested in adopting Patricia or other orphaned children through the Mercy and Sharing Foundation can visit www.stfrancisheartcenter. com and click on the "What's New" link. Edwards hopes someone will adopt Patricia, whom she calls "delightful." She started walking on Christmas Day."
Now that Patricia has been given this second chance at life, Edwards hopes someone will come along and give her a family to make her life truly complete.
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