The Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center family (JFLH) is saddened to announce the untimely passing of Catherina Esprit at the age of 38. Ms. Esprit was a Dominican citizen with four children and resided in St. Thomas since the 1990’s. She suffered from severe heart disease which required the repair of two out of four heart valves. Last month Dr. Moses DeGraft-Johnson was made aware of Esprit’s life-threatening condition and inability to pay for the needed surgery. He generously offered to perform the high-risk surgery pro bono. In addition to foregoing his own surgical fees, Dr. DeGraft-Johnson personally appealed to the entire Virgin Islands community and surgical supply vendors to secure funds to cover the expense of Esprit’s treatment and recovery. Senate President Louis Patrick Hill and Former Senator David Jones also supported the fundraising and community outreach efforts.
In a spirit of teamwork, esprit de corps, Dr. DeGraft-Johnson and JFLH united to make critical healthcare available in spite of the financial sacrifice and medical risks. Thanks to the expertise, compassion, and collaboration of the JFLH team in the Intensive Care Unit, Operating Room, and the VICC, the double-valve replacement procedure was performed without complications and Esprit made it through surgery successfully. No effort was spared in an attempt to ensure the greatest opportunity for her survival. Esprit’s prior physical deterioration overwhelmed her ability to recover and she expired four days after the critical double-valve replacement procedure while recovering in the Intensive Care Unit.
Her mother, Mrs. Mary Esprit, spoke with assurance to Dr. Degraft-Johnson, “You and your team did your utmost best with her. You and the nurses cared for her like she was your own child. Catherina was very proud of herself and wanted to do everything on her own. She was a strong girl with a lot of heart. God had a better plan for her and a better place for her.”
In honor of Catherina Esprit, Dr. DeGraft-Johnson and JFLH are encouraging members of the community to be proactive partners in their health and medical care. First, apply for health insurance, whether government or private. Second, visit your doctor annually for a routine checkup. Next, engage in a meaningful diet and exercise program. Finally, be sure you have an Advance Directive in place to be ready for end-of-life care decisions. While these preventive steps can help you to maintain your health, the availability of advanced medical resources like the open-heart surgery program remains an essential component of our healthcare system.
Donations in memory of Esprit can be made to The Heart and Lung Foundation so that others with similar conditions will also have a chance for life. Sincerely,
Darice Plaskett
Editor’s note: Darice Plaskett, RN, MSA, FACHE, is the interim chief executive officer (CEO) of Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center .
