16/12/2025
It was an incredible honour to attend the 9th World Congress of Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery and to share a glimpse of our Pacific story. My sincere thanks to Dr. Kirsten Finucaine for introducing me to this platform.
The congress was a powerful experience, learning from global experts about the history, current work, and future directions in this field, while also putting faces to the names I’ve only known through journals and emails. From hearing directly from patients about their lived experiences to meeting the developers of Strep vaccines, every moment reinforced the importance of collaboration.
Though we may sometimes feel isolated in our small island nations, this gathering reminded me that we are not alone. We are united in the shared mission of improving care for children with heart disease, and I was deeply moved by the willingness of everyone to contribute in whatever way they can.
I return home inspired, hopeful, and committed to strengthening these connections so that together, we can make a lasting difference.
Vinaka & Ro Rabwa Phyllis Kala of Heart Heroes Fiji and Thomas Russell for helping me with my presentation. Much appreciated.
❤️
