The life saving mission trips to the Dominican Republic led by local cardiac surgeon Robert Pascotto are leaving their impact not only on the patient's lives that are saved and the medical team that's saving them, but also on the people who support them.

Cardiac Surgeon Robert Pascotto explains "We're doing 2 operations today, the first case is a lady and she's 33 years old. Southwest Regional just made a very large donation with this trip with the two heart towers, which are used."

The medical teams aren't the only one's coming from America--- the supplies to perform these life saving operations come from home too. Dr. Pascotto says "We bring everything to soup to nuts as they say from band aids, soap to heart valves."

The schedule is booked solid. Cardiac Surgeon Gary Dworkin says "There is an abundance of patients that can really benefit from surgery and unfortunately we can operate on 10-2 per day on average while we're here."

These trips would not be possible without help from the Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center and other local hospitals, manufacturers and just caring people. Dr. Pascotto's wife Joan says "People at home have donated everything we use."

Dr. Pascotto also says they may be back now-but they'll be gearing up and ready to do this again at the end of the month. If you want to help, there are ways you can offer support. "To pay for a nurse who can't afford to come down here, it's the small things. And if it's just a letter of moral support they want to send, I would love that also."

And what's also needed is for this heart to heart mission to continue. Another team sets out with Dr. Pascotto on July 22nd.

You can read more about the missions and contact the people involved by visiting their website at www.heartmission.com.