Dear Editor,

The entire Maragh family wishes to express its profound gratitude and wholehearted commendation to consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Roger Irvine and his excellent University Hospital of the West Indies team of Dr S Little, Dr D Pinnock, Dr F Forrest, Dr K Metalor and Dr D McGaw.

While heavy rains from tropical storm Nicole were lashing the island late September, they did a wonderfully successful coronary artery bypass grafting on our sister Rosetta. As the heavens wept – we thought – the team quieted our nerves and made us smile again.

Not to be outdone were the nurses and other doctors in the Tony Thwaites Wing, Ward 1 and the Intensive Care Unit. Local and overseas staff who hail from as far afield as India worked at times under adverse conditions – a leaking roof and an unbearably overheated ICU – without a complaint, caring for the sick while warning visitors to be careful how they walked on the wet floor.

Thanks also to the families outside the ICU who in their moment of distress spontaneously found time to comfort one another. How can we forget the energetic Julie, her indefatigable mom, and several others who brought food and water and generously shared with whoever were keeping vigil there? Neither can we forget the sympathetic security guard who told the four visiting members of our family (racing to the ICU in the rain the night our sister’s surgery was over), that she had heard about us – we were many.

We are grateful too to the friends who gave blood for the surgery – a priceless and rare gift. Support from all, near and far, was excellent – as excellent as all those at UHWI. It is clear we have the skills in Jamaica for the most crucial surgeries and the many other aspects of health care. If we gave our specialists and others in the sector the support needed to continue their work under normal circumstances and to care for their own families, they would not look for greener pastures.

G Maragh

Kingston 8