Rwandan doctor saves life of Israeli senior citizen

HOLON, ISRAEL — On an otherwise routine afternoon at the Wolfson Medical Center, the high-stakes reality of international medical training coincided with a heart-stopping emergency.

Roni Moshe, a fiercely active 71-year-old grandfather of 10 from Holon, has always maintained an extraordinary physical regimen. An avid long-distance cyclist, Roni is also an accomplished open-water swimmer who logs two kilometers in the open sea three times a week—totalling an impressive six kilometers weekly. However, his active routine faced a sudden and life-threatening turn when he walked into the medical center suffering from unexplained fatigue and sharp chest pain.

When an echocardiogram was performed, the cardiac team discovered a massive 8-centimeter myxoma inside Roni’s left atrium. With every beat of his heart, the rare, benign tumor shifted like a pendulum, nearly cutting off his blood supply entirely.

Recognizing the immediate peril, Dr. Hagai Dekel, Director of the Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Division, called for an emergency operation within hours. Assigned to the surgical team was Dr. Jean de Dieu Nsanzimana, a Rwandan surgeon currently undergoing a five-year fellowship in congenital and pediatric cardiac surgery at Wolfson Medical Center.

Dr. Jean de Dieu is part of a landmark initiative supported by Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) to expand access to advanced cardiac care across Africa. Upon completing his fellowship, he is set to return to Kigali’s King Faisal Hospital to work alongside lead pediatric cardiac surgeon Dr. Ejigu Mekonnen Yayehyirad—an Ethiopian-born surgeon and former SACH fellow—and serve as Rwanda’s first native-born pediatric cardiac surgeon.

Emergency Resuscitation Under Pressure

As Roni sat up in his room signing the surgical consent forms, disaster struck early. He suddenly gasped, turned pale, and collapsed into sudden cardiac arrest—the heavy, free-floating tumor had completely occluded his heart's mitral valve.

Dr. Jean de Dieu was among the first at Roni's bedside. Thanks to his emergency training both in Rwanda and Israel, and not only at Wolfson, he also reacted without hesitation, drawing on a depth of critical care experience built across two nations. He immediately initiated advanced resuscitation protocols and high-quality chest compressions. Coordinating with the resuscitation team, Jean de Dieu maintained blood and oxygen flow during the critical minutes when seconds meant the difference between life and irreversible brain damage and managed to bring the patient, the grandfather of 10 children, back to life.

Once a faint rhythm was re-established, the team sedated, ventilated, and rushed Roni directly into the operating theater without losing a moment.

Surgical Success

Inside the operating room, Dr. Dekel and Dr. Jean de Dieu worked under immense time pressure. Together, they opened the chest, placed Roni on bypass, and delicately extracted the 8-centimeter mass from the left atrium, fully restoring unrestricted blood flow to his heart chambers.

Dr. Haggai Dekel highlighted the importance of Roni’s swift response to his symptoms: "Many active individuals believe that being physically fit makes them immune to silent cardiovascular threats. It is very important to listen to your body, and if you feel abnormal symptoms, immediately go to get checked. Roni was smart to listen to his body and head to the hospital. Thanks to him being cautious, he is alive."

When Roni woke up in the intensive care unit surrounded by his family, the terror of his sudden collapse gave way to profound gratitude.

"I am a sporty person, not used to being sick," Roni recalled. "When I felt those pains, I knew something dramatic was happening. It was pure providence that it happened here at Wolfson."

Reflecting on his recovery, Roni added: "When I woke up, I was told that the tall and elegant gentleman from Rwanda next to my bedside had saved my life. I was so happy to meet him, and I was very lucky that I had such a professional doctor by my side when everything happened. I didn't know about Save a Child's Heart, and I didn't know doctors from Africa are doing their specialties in Israel. I think this is a wonderful initiative—it's good to help other countries, and my case is an example that it also helps us. He saved my life!"

For Dr. Jean de Dieu, the life-saving intervention served as a powerful reminder of the deep connection built through international medical collaboration.

"Saving lives in Israel is an incredible honor. Israel and Save a Child’s Heart have done so much for my country," Dr. Jean de Dieu reflected.

"Many Rwandan doctors before me have been trained at Wolfson Medical Center through the SACH fellowship program, and children from Rwanda also come to Israel for lifesaving treatment. For me personally, giving back to Israeli society feels natural. The knowledge and skills I am gaining in Israel will help me save the lives of children in my own country. Having the opportunity to also save the life of an Israeli senior citizen is a true privilege. To be part of the team that saved an Israeli senior citizen—a cherished grandfather—reminds me why I chose this path: to heal hearts, no matter where we are from." — Dr. Jean, Save a Child's Heart Fellow

About Save a Child's Heart (SACH)

Founded in 1995, Save a Child's Heart has treated more than 8,500 children from 75 countries, offering hope and healing to children who would otherwise lack access to advanced pediatric cardiac care. The organization has also trained hundreds of doctors and medical professionals from around the world, creating a growing chain of healing that strengthens lifesaving cardiac care far beyond Israel's borders.