The Editor, Sir:

On Friday June 29, the Cardiology Team and I bade farewell to cardiothoracic surgeon par excellence Dr. Paul Ramphal at the Cardiology Unit of the University Hospital of the West Indies. The feelings and sentiments expressed were heartfelt, bringing tears to our eyes, and it was evident to everyone present that a big chunk of our medical expertise was leaving with this man.

Humble, warm, kind, caring, passionate about his work and his patients alike, generous, brilliant, were just a few of the words and phrases used to describe him. From a patient's perspective and therefore personally, I am struck by how little has been said or even attempted by the university to secure his talents within our shores when the facility is the only teaching hospital in the island.

Good job

Thanks Dr. Ramphal, for never being afraid to speak your mind and standing for what you believe in, I want to salute you. So many of us have failed as individuals to stand for something and thus we fall for everything. For extending your mind and genius to create the first beating heart surgical simulator in the world, so that our doctors can be trained to undertake beating heart surgery, I say a heartfelt thank you.

Us patients owe to you a debt of gratitude for always taking the time to comfort, console and cajole us into the final decision to undergo surgery then hold our hands as we come awake and get ready to resume our normal lives.

May God's blessings be with you and your family through our new journey.

I am, etc.,

TOTLYN N. BRYAN

Double Open Heart

Surgery Survivor & Friend