Just days after they had open heart surgery and were cleared to go home, Janet Yassin and Ramnaught Sanichar, were last week testifying to their new health and strength and the advances in local medical care.
Consumed with gratitude for Dr Gary Stephens and his team at the Caribbean Heart Institute, Georgetown Public Hospital, Yassin and Sanichar said they were fortunate to have had quality medical care right at home. Sanichar, so overwhelmed with emotions, fought back tears while counting his blessings.
“This right here is a blessing and what they are doing here is really something, I am really grateful,” Sanichar told Stabroek News last week.
Sanichar had double bypass surgery earlier this month as part of the second round of open heart surgeries while Yassin had a heart valve replacement surgery. Another patient, Makebarran Ramdin had a single bypass surgery.
Referring to himself as an ordinary carpenter from Industry, East Coast Demerara, Sanichar said, things were not so good in his life several months ago. He described months of agonizing pain, which started mid last year and intensified. The pain was so great that he was forced to quit working.
He was diagnosed with a heart condition and advised to do surgery but the service was not yet available in the country. Sanichar prayed and hope for the operation and was later informed that CHI was in the process of offering open heart surgery. According to him, that was the most important piece of news anyone had give him in a long, long time.
Though he was placed on the list he was not initially guaranteed an early date for surgery. But he waited patiently and his turn came. Sanichar related that he was not over-exuberant but he was pretty happy that the time for surgery had arrived.
“I feel like a new man and I am looking forward to returning to work,” he said grinning before getting serious and pointing out that he is aware the recovery will be a long one. But that does not stop him from hoping and feeling optimistic about the future. As for him feeling like a new man, he said, the heart feels new.
Sanichar repeatedly praised the staff at CHI and he called Dr Stephens, “the best”. He said Dr Stephens’ calm attitude and approach made him feel right at home at CHI, adding that there was never any moment of doubt about whether he would have come out of the surgery okay. In fact, Sanichar said, he was certain that he would be walking around two days after and he was right about that.
The thought of going home and not having to worry about sleepless nights and aching pains throughout the day was foremost on Sanichar’s mind. He said the family was waiting to meet ‘the new Sanichar’ and he was waiting to meet them.
Janet Yassin was in a reflective mood when she spoke with Stabroek News. She choked up a few times while recalling how uncertain her life was nearly a year ago when it was confirmed that she needed surgery almost immediately if she had any chance of surviving. At that time, there was no realistic way that such was possible.
Yassin, who is the first Guyanese to have valve replacement surgery done in the country, said she spent an excessive amount of time worrying about her health given that the prognosis was not so good but there was hope. She was a patient at CHI and was optimistic they would make the surgery accessible locally.
Yassin, who lives at North Road, said the surgery changed and saved her life. She was full of praise for Dr Stephens referring to him as “heaven sent” and his team as the best any patient can ask for. According to her, CHI offers the care and comfort that is needed to get through critical times.
CHI, which commenced operations nearly two years ago, completed the first local open heart surgery in October last year.
