For Immediate Release: September 9, 2008

Contact: Brian Reardon (217) 544-6464, ext. 44306

Springfield residents help Jamaican man get pacemaker

SPRINGFIELD – Through the kindness and generosity of Springfield residents and the local medical community, Oswald Simpson, a 65 year old resident of Jamaica, underwent a pacemaker placement procedure today at Prairie Heart Institute at St. John’s Hospital.

In January of this year, Dr. Nilesh Goswami, Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants, was on a mission trip to Jamaica with the Mercy Project, a charitable organization founded by Dr. Robert Burris, a Springfield dentist.  During the mission trip, Dr. Goswami saw Mr. Simpson at a clinic in rural Jamaica and discovered he had complete heart block. Heart block is a condition where the top chambers of the heart do not communicate with the bottom chambers resulting in an extremely slow pulse.  Drs. Goswami and Burris collaborated to bring him to Springfield for treatment for his condition.

Dr. Burris’s wife, Lisa raised money to cover the cost of bringing Mr. Simpson and his daughter to Springfield through proceeds from her own charitable organization called ‘the batch.’  She baked cookies and all the income from the month of July went to cover airfare for Oswald and his daughter.  Meanwhile, commitments were secured from St. John’s Hospital, Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants and Boston Scientific to cover the costs of his medical care and the pacemaker device at no expense to him or his family.

“Through the assistance and generosity of many people who’ve never met Oswald Simpson, we were able to get him medical attention that will improve and prolong his quality of life.  This is a great example of what can be accomplished with a little motivation, cooperation, and good will,” said Dr. Goswami. 

Dr. James Mullin, Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants, performed the pacemaker implant procedure.  It’s expected that Mr. Simpson and his daughter will be able to return to Jamaica on September 11.