From the Bahamas to Boston- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
From the Bahamas to Boston- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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August 11, 2000
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In This Issue:
From the Bahamas to Boston
Pressley-Capers joins BWH as Clinical Services VP
Bed Moves
MBTA Subsidy Boasts Big Savings
Kahlert Completes Wharton Fellows Program
Construction Update
Tobin Fund sends kids to camp
Red Sox Tickets
Ready, Set, Donate!
Main Course—Ice Cream!
While hile many Americans plan trips to the Bahamas for some sun and fun, two sisters from the Bahamas planned a recent trip to Boston for its renowned medical care. Forty-year-old Annamae Strachan, an assistant restaurant manager, and 59-year-old Geralene Lightbourn, a casino worker, both underwent minimally invasive cardiac surgery at BWH on Tuesday, August 1. Mrs. Strachan and Mrs. Lightbourn are both employed by the same hotel in the Bahamas where they came into contact with a vacationing BWH patient. The patient explained the heart valve surgery Lawrence Cohn, MD, performed on him here at BWH. Ironically, Strachan had been diagnosed with a heart condition that required the same aortic valve replacement. She quickly shared the news with Lightbourn who had been diagnosed recently with a hole between two chambers of her heart that required surgery to repair. After discussing the possibility of traveling to Boston for their surgeries with each other and their respective husbands, the sisters made a decision to come to BWH. Both sisters received operations on Tuesday, August 1. “I was delighted to be able to take care of Annamae and Geralene, since there are no facilities or technology to perform such surgery available on their island,” said Dr. Cohn. “This is one example of many that illustrates BWH’s impact on international patients,” he added. Strachan and Lightbourn recovered comfortably in the same room on 8B last week and were discharged on August 6. The sisters’ husbands and some family members joined them in the United States and kept them company as they waited for their August 9 follow-up appointment. “Our experience at BWH was great and everyone who took care of us was excellent,” said Strachan. “Because we work in a service industry, my sister and I know what constitutes good customer service, and we appreciated the super customer service here,” added Lightbourn.