Humanitarian Missions Give Cardiothoracic Surgeon An Opportunity to Give Back

reprinted from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Spring Newsletter at www.sts.org

As a cardiothoracic surgeon, Emily A. Farkas, MD has the typical busy schedule. However,she manages to make time to do what she loves best—participate in humanitarian missions.

"My Experience" by British Surgeon, Uday Dandekar FRCS (CTh)

The last half of the 20th century saw various advances in cardiac surgical procedures that benefited millions. However, the growth of these procedures in underdeveloped countries has been very slow to non-existent.

Leo Tolstoy said, "The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity".

My inspiration to get involved with medical mission work began on a cruise ship excursion in Jamaica. It was not long after disembarking that I realized real poverty. I was so pained by what I witnessed, that I returned to the ship and vowed to never return, unless it was in a capacity to help.

BROKEN HEARTS REPAIRED HERE!

Words can not even come close to explaining the the pride I feel in representing my medical specialty, Biomedical Engineering, on a CardioStart mission.  I would like all my colleagues to experience what I have, and enjoy such a variety of problems, that I have been able to take on and solve.  I thought my first mission, to Iran, would be very challenging, but instead, it was a complete success. It brought me surprisingly close to the hearts of many people involved with the work of the hospital... families, a widow with many children, and a senior religious cleric.  On my next visit to Iran,  the uninterrupted power source (UPS) for the XRAY shorted out, putting the entire XRAY department out of action. We were able to repair the USP and put the XRAY department back into operation, and seeing the network come to back to life was a really great moment.  While walking down the hallway in the hospital, a beautiful little girl, probably only 10 years old, grabbed my hand and offered me a soft drink and a smile to say, "Thank you."

LUZ (Spanish for ‘Light’)

Occasionally, during our travels doing this work we love, we discover reasons why we continue, in spite of the hardships. I can cite many such instances in my own experiences, and I know others can do likewise. Each mission seems to reinforce those reasons with a new discovery, either within your own psyche or in a typical event of day to day life in a world many never have the privilege of experiencing.

The most recent event for me was my introduction to Luz Estephanie Machiavello. A little 5 yr old girl with more courage and determination than I would have in a similar circumstance.

Why am I a non-medical volunteer?

Why do I do it? The simple reason is, because I can. I'm not a doctor and have no abilities as a healer, but I can, and do, battle the needless suffering I see, with the skills I have as a photographer and with the efforts of my own two hands. As a photographer, I document the human condition and hopefully produce images that move and inspire. As a man, I see a need outside the medical mission and fix it. Repairing a women's shelter, fixing a playground at an orphanage or just holding a child in need of human touch - these are some of the things I've been able to do as a non-medical volunteer.