Tales of Triumph from a Top Surgeon
Nairobi, Kenya-- Betty Gikonyo's life changed forever at 30,000 feet.
Several years ago, the
Kenyan pediatrician was flying with her three children to the United
States, accompanying her husband who was pursuing a medical scholarship
in Minneapolis. But just before their departure from Kenya, the family
was asked to escort an 18-year-old boy flying to America for treatment
on a heart condition.
The Gikonyos agreed and
initially all seemed to be going well -- the plane was airborne and
cruising but then, suddenly, the boy began to get sick.
"He started getting
difficulty in breathing," recalls Gikonyo. "He started foaming through
the mouth," she continues. "We were very fortunate because we had the
medication, and we found ourselves administering medicine in the air."
After a short stop in
Brussels to allow the boy's condition to stabilize, the group were
finally able to continue their journey -- but the experience left a
lasting impression on Gikonyo, shaping her mission to provide necessary
healthcare for children in need.
"[It's that] feeling that
you need to do something for somebody you don't know so that they can
be comfortable, so that they can enjoy life the way you do," she says.
Gikonyo has since
returned to Kenya where she has become a leading pediatric cardiologist.
Focused on improving access to quality healthcare, her illustrious
career has seen her help establish the Heart to Heart Foundation, which raises funds for disadvantaged children to receive lifesaving surgery.
Gikonyo also began
organizing medical airlifts overseas so children could receive the vital
treatment. But it was in 2006 when the Kenyan doctor realized her
20-year dream of opening a state-of-the-art facility where could treat
children with ailing hearts, the Karen Hospital just outside Nairobi.
Watch the video below to
learn more about Gikonyo's continued mission to alleviate suffering and
improve the lives of countless children.
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