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Latest news from East Timor Hearts Fund
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Timotio and friends
Dear FNAME,
What exciting and wonderful times!
I’ve now been in the role for around a month, and I can’t believe how blessed I am. This is an amazing organisation surrounded by so many selfless volunteers and supporters, many of whom I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting.
In my first week, patients Marilia and Paulina flew back to Timor-Leste after life-saving surgery in Sydney. Thank you to our volunteer cardiologist Dr Simon Eggleton and our partners Eastern Heart Clinic and Prince of Wales Private Hospital.
It was a great pleasure last month to sign a new three-year partnership agreement with philanthropist and businessman Peter McMullin. It’s great to know that we have Peter’s  support as we continue to expand our work in the coming years.
I would like to thank my predecessor Stuart Thomson for giving me such a thorough induction and handover.
I’m also very grateful to friends who have recently supported us with major donations and fundraisers, including Jane Gorman and Friends of Same.
Finally, profuse thanks to our dedicated and capable volunteer clinical coordinator Nicki Mock, who has passed on the mantle to our very experienced clinic administration volunteer Liam Callaghan.

Thank you for your support.
David Marlow, CEO

PS: We’ve just launched our new website featuring more volunteer and patient stories and easier ways to donate. Please let us know what you think!
Patient news
Healthy hearts for Marilia and Paulina
Young mums Marilia and Paulina, both aged 28, made excellent recoveries from their heart procedures last month, returning home to much brighter futures.
Both had high-tech mitral balloon procedures to fix damaged heart valves. The pair had battled for years with severe symptoms that left them struggling to breathe, walk and do daily tasks.
Our thanks to our volunteer cardiologist Dr Simon Eggleton and our partners Eastern Heart Clinic and Prince of Wales Private Hospital in Sydney. We are also grateful to health support worker and interpreter Ima, from our in-country partner Maluk Timor, who accompanied the patients to Australia.
Marilia and Paulina are now enjoying being able to care for their families and Marilia can look forward to returning to university.
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A special message from volunteer cardiologist Dr Simon Eggleton
Timotio's 'transformation'
Dr Simon Eggleton and patient Timotio
Our volunteer cardiologist Dr Simon Eggleton is encouraging supporters to help more patients like Timotio access life-changing heart surgery.
 

“When I scanned 21-year-old Timotio’s heart during a trip to Dili two years ago, I was shocked. This was the worst rheumatic disease damage I had ever seen. In a young man who should be at the prime of his life.
Scarring caused by the effects of childhood rheumatic fever had reduced Timotio’s mitral valve to the size of a pin hole.
With the blood unable to flow, his lungs were drowning in fluid, leaving Timotio breathless and struggling to walk.
We quickly arranged for Timotio to come to Australia, and in September 2017 my colleague Dr Virag Kushwaha and I performed a high-tech mitral balloon procedure. It was a complete success. Within hours Timotio was up and walking, breathing easy for the first time in years.
Dr Kushwaha and I caught up with Timotio in Dili last year. I can’t describe how good it felt to see such a transformation. Timotio can study and play sport again.
I’ll see Timotio again when we do the Run Melbourne fun run and walk together on Sunday 28 July. I hope you too can come along and see living proof of our life-changing work.
One in 28 young people in Timor-Leste suffers from rheumatic heart disease, so there are many more who need our help.

That’s why I’m asking you to make a tax-time donation before 30 June, to allow us to help other patients like Timotio.
Please go to our website at
www.easttimorheartsfund.org.au to make a tax-deductible donation today.

Thank you in advance for your support.”
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A 'miracleTimotio' for Timotio
“When I had heart disease, I couldn’t walk far, not even to school. I was short of breath, tired and my heart pumped so fast. After the operation I felt like a miracle happened to me. Now I can play soccer and run, and I can do activities at home with my family.”
Meet Timotio at Run Melbourne!
Timotio and family
Timotio plays soccer
Please join Team Mending Broken Hearts at the Run Melbourne fun run and walk on Sunday 28 July, where you can meet our special guest, patient Timotio, who will complete the run with our volunteer cardiologist Dr Simon Eggleton. Please join our friendly team of medicos, volunteers, Timorese and Australian heart patients, and support our goal of raising $20,000 to mend a broken heart.
Go to our team page to join today!
Sincere thanks to event gold sponsor Aspect Skin Care and supporters Mercure Welcome Melbourne and Sabores de Timor.
Join our team
'Outstanding results'
Medical roundup with Dr Noel Bayley

Since last I wrote, two patients, Marilia and Paulina, have had mitral valve balloon procedures in Sydney.
Both young women had very severe mitral stenosis (narrowed mitral valves from previous rheumatic fever) and were troubled by severe symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue. Without intervention both faced an early death.
The Sydney clinical team, headed by volunteer cardiologist Dr Simon Eggleton, produced an outstanding technical result, and I expect both patients to do very well.
We have just had confirmation of three more patients who are expected to have mitral valve repairs at Royal Melbourne Hospital later in the year, and a further young woman requiring lifesaving heart surgery. We look forward to reviewing them at our June round of clinics, which is fast approaching.
It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to volunteer clinical coordinator Nicki Mock. Nicki put in enormous time, energy and expertise in bringing our medical records system up to its current very high standard. We’ll miss her badly. She has our profound gratitude for her work.

Thank you for your support.
– Dr Noel Bayley, honorary medical adviser
Three minutes with…

David Marlow
CEO

How did you become involved?
David MarlowA colleague, who was aware of my passion for social justice and my search for a leadership role to significantly contribute to the community, explained what the organisation does, and I immediately fell in love with the idea of the role. Heart disease has directly affected my family over a couple of generations, so I can appreciate the impact of good, professional medical intervention.

What does your role entail?
My role is to ensure implementation of the vision of the board, which is set out in the strategic plan. The most important thing is creating an environment that helps our volunteers and staff be successful, including ensuring financial strength and building our capabilities for the future.  

What do you do in your spare time?
I aim to be a good dad for my adult kids. I share interests in movies and AFL football with them, but otherwise commit my time to various community volunteer and social justice interests.

Read David's full profile on our website.
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