Jean Michel is a 16 year-old boy who was admitted to Hospital Bernard Mevs Project Medishare with abnormal narrowing of the aortic valve, known medically as aortic stenosis. He was very sick and placed in the Intensive Care Unit. An Echocardiography diagnostic test was performed. Jean Michel’s test found that he has an Ejection Fraction of 26%. To put this in perspective, generally, a normal Ejection Fraction is greater than 50%. The only treatment for Jean Michel’s condition is Cardiac Surgery.
After multiple attempts to find a hospital for Jean Michel he was accepted this past Wednesday to Mercy Medical Center St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville, TN. With the assistance of Clint Doiron, Michelle Roberts, Chris Keylon, John Swartz, The Chadasha Foundation, Mercy Hospital and the Haitian Parole department, Jean Michel was flown to Tennessee on Sunday.
Before being admitted to Hospital Bernard Mevs Project Medishare and subsequently flown to Mercy Hospital, Jean Michel had been living at Ophelinat Ministere Dieu Aime Tous les Enfants du Monde. With the help of his Aunt, the staff at Hospital Bernard Mevs Project Medishare arranged a surprise party for Jean Michel on Saturday with all of his friends from the orphanage. The children entered the hospital singing, dancing and playing instruments. Jean Michel was brought outside and his friends greeted him by placing flowers on and around him. They arranged a concert for him that lasted two hours. Before being hospitalized, he was in a singing group and also played the drum. When the children began to play, Jean Michel wheeled over, asked for a drum and began to play along with his friends.
After the concert, the staff at Hospital Bernard Mevs Project Medishare hosted a party for Jean Michel and all 30 children from the orphanage with cake, snacks and drinks. Prior to leaving, all of the children and staff prayed for Jean Michel. That evening, Jean Michel told Brittany Crush, Chief Nursing Officer, that he was so happy to see all of his friends again and that he had missed them. Before going to sleep on Saturday night, he told Brittany that he had a really good day and was excited that he was going to be able to get his heart fixed.
Below is a brief video of the uplifting surprise concert for Jean Michel.
Chief Nursing Officer, Brittany Crush and Jean Michel
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