Hi Folks! Welcome to the first entry of the "murakaza neza team heart" continuously updated blog. This is where we can talk to you and let you know how it's all going.
01 July 2010
I have had the opportunity to share my passion for this cause twice recently and it inspired me to come back to the computer and share with you my new found energy. I am ready to refocus. I am still working on transferring all the footage. As I have mentioned before, we have A LOT and with my current skills it has not been an easy learning process. I have a new MacBook Pro and a new external hard drive and I have my apple appointment set up today so I can go in and get my bearings. My Final Cut Pro has not been working correctly and any attempts I have made previously to make any progress have failed. I need help.
Leon is rocking his own work at the moment - a fantastic project where he is cycling across the United States and filming/documenting as he goes. It's called "The Cycling Reporter" and you can find out more about that by going to his website:
However, as exciting as it is to have him off being a rockstar, it is not helping my own editing advancement! I have brainstormed a little with my husband (that's the "getting married" part that I mentioned - my wedding was June18th and I have only just returned from my honeymoon) and think I now have a couple avenues I will be exploring in regards to pulling this documentary together.
The most heartening thing as that people are excited to know more about what it is Team Heart are doing. They want to see your work, understand the issues and hopefully, discover the ways in which they can help.
Team Heart returned to Rwanda this year, once again performing their life-saving service with perfect compassion and care. I wish I could have joined them. They will be returning next year in February. So soon. I have already begun thinking about joining them for this trip so that I might be able to follow up with some of the patients I got in 2009, after two years of being in the recovery process. We'll see. It will depend on how the film starts shaping up.
Please, remember the patients, remember those that still need help, remember their families and remember Team Heart. They consistently need your support and help and you can find out what you can do by going to their website.
See you soon.
10 September 2009
It is now 2am in the morning my time and I must sleep, but before I do I want to mention that we have had support and help from so many places and I really appreciate the interest you have all given. I had some very special help from my friend and fellow filmmaker Salvatore Castellana who managed to get the trailer into a format that I could post online, so we send a special thank you to him for making the online viewing possible. I hope you all enjoy the trailer! Let me know what you think. We love to get feedback. And remember you can always go to the actual Team Heart website to find out how you can help and support the team for next year.
That's it from me. Goodnight.
31 August 2009
As for the development of the actual film itself, I have decided that we will definitely be cutting a 20 minutes piece that we will submit to festivals and hopefully use to secure more funding so that we may return to Rwanda in the near future to follow up the progress of our patients from April 2009 and also possibly check in with the team's 2010 trip. We'll see.
It still amazes me how little information there is readily available about the devastating affects of heart disease in Africa. People never fail to be shocked and astounded when I begin to tell them how young people, mothers, students, brothers, neighbours are dying from this preventable disease. Such a simple cure. So many cases already too far gone to be rectified. But even if we did know more, even if we were all aware that thousands of people needed this life-saving surgery - what could we do about it?
I have heard through my sister that Team Heart are busy underway with planning for next years trip 2010 and that Leslie Sabatino will be returning to help lead the charge. I am sure they will be looking for support in terms of supplies and funding so if you're interested in finding out what you can do, please go to their website for more info: http://www.brighamandwomens.org/cardiacsurgery/Rwanda/HowtoHelp.aspx
05 July 2009
A few days ago I attended a seminar held by Shooting People at BFI and got to see Kelly DeVine talking about "Reframe" (http://reframecollection.org/home/index) a new site that allows access to a lot of difficult to find or previously non-digitized work by digitizing it and selling it, along with many other documentaries, online. I hope I've managed to convey that correctly - it is a lot of new information for me, but basically, once we're all finished, you might just be able to find us here (if you haven't already seen it on the TV...) ha.
Leon just finished working on a small 3 minute submission for a documentary scholarship with National Geographic. He asked if he could use some of the footage we took in Rwanda and I said yes (somewhat hesitant and intrigued by how it would end up looking...) and I must say it looks fantastic!! I am absolutely jumping out of my socks to get working on the real thing now!! We have a beautiful movie ahead of us.
Thank you all again, anyone reading, for your interest, your support, and your patience.
Look for online trailers for "murkaza neza team heart" coming soon.....
Title Text.
30 April 2009
Okay, we've had a few days to rest now and it's about time that I let you all in on some of our favorite adventures from Kigali. Where should I start? How about randomly as the thoughts come to me?
So, I returned home laden with bags, carrying my own weight in baskets (rwandese are famous for these) that I had acquired from various markets with my sharp, Hong-Kong trained bargaining skills. Lots of men on the street walk around selling hand-made cards designed with banana leaf. Normally you are beating them all off with a stick and promising to buy from them "next time" but with just a few hours left on Sunday morning before our departing flight there was not a single "banana leaf card man" to be found. I had to settle for a splurge on baskets and a promise that I would return and see things properly next time...
It has occurred to me that we had two very extraordinary, very different experiences these past 3 weeks. The first was our trip to Africa, which was intriguing and adventurous in itself. But added to this, was the fact that we were getting the inside view into what it takes to fix someone's heart. Leon was hilarious after his first Operating Room experience. Smashing through my fears that he would faint, throw up, get queasy, or take two weeks to adjust to the sights, sounds, activity of it all, he came out beaming with eyes bigger and brighter than I'd ever seen them, the words not coming fast enough to describe how amazing everything had been. Unfortunately, despite his awe and best descriptions of the artistry performed by our incredible team at work - I never managed to get into the OR myself. I couldn't even make myself watch as John Connell inserted a line into one of the patients femoral artery. I have no idea how I am going to manage watching back all the footage Leon took of chests being opened, sternums being broken, hearts being prodded and all of it being stitched back up together again. One picture at a time I guess!
Jean de Dieu and his sister:
26 April 2009
Is it time to leave already?
Sorry folks, I've been really slack about keeping this blog updated over the last 10 days. We've had an extremely busy time and are both exhausted. It's our last morning here in Kigali and we will be catching our Kenya Airways flight home at lunch time. I believe we have a 7 hour layover in Nairobi... but it feels good to be homeward bound.
It's an absolutely gorgeous day here and the last couple days have been very touching as all our patients steadily improve in health. There has been a lot of laughter and special bonds have been created between Team Heart members and patients alike.
Unfortunately, I have a plane to catch and so can not finish this update, but be assured I will give you lots and lots of details in my next installment.... albeit from London!
Thanks for all the support. See you on the other side.
Avacado Tree
15 April 2009
It's been raining all day today. Leon arrived at the hospital reeeeeeally early with the rest of the surgical team prepared to shoot his first set inside the Operating Room, however, we had another one of our many many schedule changes and it was pushed back until the afternoon. So we spent the morning following Jean Pierre. Jean Pierre is an 18 year old boy with Rheumatic Heart Disease. He's a tiny guy (most of the people we are operating on are) and he doesn't speak much english. He's got a bit of waiting to do but he will have his operation tomorrow.
It's been great to see the patients who arrive from their various villages bonding together while they wait for their respective surgeries. Another lovely sight is seeing relatives of certain patients talking with patients who don't have any relatives here. I think it is important not to feel alone.
We had a bit of a scare today as one of our girls started crashing and the whole Team Heart jumped to life around her doing whatever they could to stablise her again. As I was walking around the room later this afternoon I heard this humming, beautiful humming, and looked around to find one of the nurses leaning over the bed of this girl and quietly singing to her. How very touching.
We still have along day ahead of us as they finish up this afternoon's operation (a double valve replacement) and then prepare for her transfer to the ICU. As far as I know, we are still waiting for a patient to arrive and be admitted for a surgery tomorrow. I'm hoping to catch that.
7 patients down - another 8 to go.
10 April 2009
Unpacking. That was today’s agenda. I was impressed by everyone’s “let’s get on with it” attitude and how, despite never having set up their own wards before, everyone seemed to know what to do (it helped to have members of last years mission leading the way).
Dr. Gene Bukhman was also at the hospital today screening patients and making echo cardiograms to determine which of the patients needing heart operations will best be suited to the 2 week mission of Team Heart. There is a lot of criteria that must be considered. They try to choose the sickest patients possible but can not work on patients that are “too sick” because they require the kind of care that the Team can not provide in just 2 weeks. You think it would make for some heartbreaking decisions but when it comes down to it, it’s all about the statistics really. Who is most likely to survive and benefit from the surgery? Who can fit into Team Heart’s very tight schedule? – they can only do a certain amount of double valve operations, and a certain number of single valve operations depending on time availability.
Today I met Ernest, a minor (or major) celebrity amongst Team Heart members after he travelled to America last year to undergo open -heart surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. A quiet, easy-going boy with the most charming, heart-winning smile, after making his recovery in leaps and bounds – it’s easy to understand how he rose to celebrity status. When asked how old he was he replied “I was 18 when I had the surgery last year, now, I am 19”
So it's signposted. Who knew?
09 April 2009
What a day! We have been traveling with Egidia and her brother Egide as they showed us their hometown just south of Kigali. It was great to get out of the city and take in the beauty of Rwandan countryside. It lives up to it’s name “Land of a Thousand Hills” and we all admired the spread of banana trees, avocado trees, hibiscus flowers, coffee plants, sugar cane, daisies, corn stalks and many more types of fauna that I fail to name here. Leon shot plenty of footage from the car window that, upon playback, we were surprised to see looks fabulous!
It has been hot and humid but we have been lucky to escape the rain for yet another day and this afternoon a giant rainbow smiled across the sky. Dunno what that means, but it was quite beautiful to behold.
We only took one camera with us today, but tomorrow the “real” filming begins and we are super excited to be finally shooting at the hospital with Team Heart as the begin unpacking all the equipment and setting up for the operations that begin on Monday. That’s right, the doctors and nurses will be doing a little more than just “doctoring” and “nursing” on this trip.
Murakaza neza!
8 April 2009
From Kigali, Rwanda.
We made it!! Safe and sound - and I've finally found an internet connection that doesn't take 7 hours to send an email on - but I have to be fast as I've only a few minutes left.
Kigali is fabulous. We spent our first night at the Sky Hotel. The views were amazing across the valley and we slept (or didn't sleep) to the sounds of children playing, people talking, fires burning in kitchens, taxis, buses, cars all honking at anything and everything by the side of the road in case they should need a ride. One mosquito net served all 3 of us and there was something exciting about all being under this one net. Like we'd built a fort in our little hotel room.
Yesterday was the 15th Anniversary of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the city was eerily quiet. A sombre calm descended the center and it was quite a contrast to todays bustle.
Team Heart arrive tomorrow night and we shall be on the bus to welcome them at the airport. Can't wait. Serious filming will begin with their arrival and we are all looking forward to our adventure unfolding.
A little about Kigali before I sign off: Kigali is a city that doesn't really feel like a city. There is no specific center exactly and it is sprawled across several of Rwanda's many hills. This makes for some good exercise when trekking around from your hotel to the various shops and eateries. The other thing that makes Kigali stand out from other cities, is the striking green of it's grass and trees in contrast to the orange mud/dust that permeates through everything, getting into your lungs and sticking to the sweat of your skin creating a kind of fake tan, only to wash off in the shower leaving you just as glowing white as when you first arrived.
I want to say a HUGE thank you to Kenya Airways, who gave us an excellent discount on flights in support of our project and also provided excellent service on both our flights London - Nairobi and Nairobi - Kigali. We highly recommend flying with them.
An ENORMOUS thank you to everyone who has donated!!! It really makes a difference and I have been so touched by all your generosity.
THANK YOU!!!!
4 April 2009
The day before leaving.
We are in the last mad scramble preparing bags and equipment for our trip to Rwanda which begins tomorrow. I can't believe it. We are so excited and thrilled to be making our way on this adventure. I haven't been as good as I wanted to be at keeping this blog section updated, but I will try harder to keep you all informed of our progress in Kigali.
Leon and I had a very productive time in Boston this last week, finally getting to meet members of Team Heart in person. We managed to interview Dr. Joseph Mucumbitsi who was in town to write a grant, and to also touch base with Leslie Sabatino and Zain Kalphey, who, although they will not be joining us in Rwanda this year, were both crucial to the founding of Team Heart and we really appreciated their insights into the heart of the mission.
I should write more but my bags have not been packed and with T minus 8 hours, I must go.
Stay tuned for more!!!
11 March 2009
I'm now in Milan, Italy and today we had our first filmed interview. I talked with Cecilia Strada from the italian organization "Emergency". It was a great interview and Cecilia shared many interesting stories. I wish I could make a thousand documentaries about a thousand different worthy causes - but I tried to remain focused and give the deserved attention to my subject - Rwanda, Heart Disease and the need for cardiac surgery.
Tonight we are holding a kind of "fundraiser" at Bar Fiori Oscuri thanks to "Americanites" founder Michael Stone. If you are in the area, come check it out, we will be talking about "murakaza neza team heart" and enjoying the usual "americanites specialty burgers" and hopefully taking many many donations!
I wanted to mention a special thank you to Salvatore Castellana who has been my savior today, standing in as camera operator and revealing that he and his Mamma made some special treats to sell in return for donations tonight - I hear a "bake sale" coming on!!!
Hopefully we will be able to cut some footage from todays shoot and you'll have something to watch in the very near future.
Watch this space!!
07 March 2009
Wow, is it March already?
We are just one month away from our trip to 'the Land of a Thousand Hills'.
So far, we have been working super hard at getting our flight details sorted out so that as soon as our funds are sufficient enough we can secure our travel first to Boston to interview Team Heart in their home environment and then to Rwanda where we will also get the chance to meet some of the patients whose lives will forever be touched by this special trip.
We have been applying to some film grants, such as the Wellcome Trust, for funds but unfortunately the deadline for these funds is not until April and we need to be traveling by that time so we can not wait.
We are relying solely on private funding (translation: begging of friends and family) and there have been many squeals of delight every time I check my email and see that subject heading "Notification of Donation Received". Each one bringing us a little closer to our goal and proving that people do care, quite generously!
I travel to Milan next week to pick up my video camera and will also get in an interview with Emergency, an Italian organization that were involved with the evacuation to Sudan and treatment of a couple Rwandan patients in 2007.
I will also be giving a talk and raising awareness/funds for our cause Wednesday night at 'Americanites' courtesy of Michael Stone, and Fiori Oscuri Bar. There's always a great turnout at these super fun nights where people gather to eat burgers and fries (in Milan!) and watch english-language films. I am really looking forward to it.
Well, that's it from us this week. I will try to keep this blog updated as much as possible and will also use it to answer any questions that come from readers. So get in touch!
