We’re so pleased to be able to debut our blog,”The Beat Goes On”.
The Beat Goes On is published by the Gift of Life, a program that addresses the medical needs of children who suffer from congenital heart defects and other similar conditions. The program is largely run through the efforts of Rotary Clubs throughout the world. The organization has been providing life-saving surgery for more than 33 years. For complete details on our program, visit our web site at http://www.giftoflifeinternational.com.
We welcome your comments and hope that as a visitor to our blog, you are as moved by our work as we ourselves are. Our young patients inspire us, our medical teams amaze us, and our supporters and volunteers motivate us through their enthusiasm.
Our current global initiative, Our Hearts Are in Uganda, is a project dedicated to saving the lives of 30 children through heart surgery. Please review this blog entry and its comments to learn more about our patients and their journeys.
Enjoy our blog, and check back for details on how you can get involved!
February 25, 2009 at 9:35 pm |
Hi, this is a comment.
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March 18, 2009 at 11:23 am |
i would like to know abt mumbai -india working of gift of life
May 6, 2009 at 2:40 pm |
Rajesh…please contact Peter Arackal, the Chief Coordinator of Gift of Life South Asia…his email address is: peter.arackal@rediffmail.com
March 20, 2009 at 3:00 am |
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Gift of Life International blog….The purpose of this communications tool will be to allow Gift of Life programs around the world to communicate with one another. There now will be a forum for our 50 plus programs to share the joy of saving the lives of children
May 6, 2009 at 2:16 pm |
I am a volunteer for the Gift of Life. The first time I raised my hand to say I would help I had no clue as to the impact it would later have on my life. I thought that my service to help shuttle a fellow person in need from here to there would be a kind gesture and seemed to be needed as part of the plan to help small children in a difficult time and place.
The first experience I had was driving to the Bronx from Long Island for little Kimberly who just was released after open heart surgery. A very strange thing happened that day at peak rush hour, first I was not sure how to get where I was going, the radio said every road and highway was jammed. Somehow when I ventured off to do my duty for which I raised my hand. The traffic seemed to clear out of my way like parting the seas I just sailed through going in the general direction I knew I had to go. Upon reaching a toll bridge I was directed to an unknown route by a friendly civil servant that made me nervous. But again as I pushed forward the traffic just let me through. Becoming thirsty and hungry and knowing that my passenger and her Mom would be anxious to get where they had to go I thought perhaps they could bring me a juice from the vending machine in the hospital. Then immediately corrected by my higher consciousness I realized that I should be bringing them something healthy to refresh them after such a day as they have had. So I sought and found without a challenge exactly what we needed. Sadly Kimberly had no appetite, but with a little coaxing she warmed up to desert like any child. We again experienced another traffic miracle as we sailed on to Ronald McDonald house without a hitch. Kimberly’s Mom and I prayed as we drove thanking God for blessing us all the way. There she was able to rest and recuperate until the next chapter in her adventure. That day changed my life in a powerful way. I was transformed to an understanding of what it is like to be part of saving another soul. I visited Kimberly again before she went home with a healthy heart and her appetite had improved drastically, her smile was like a rainbow. We all rejoiced in what a miracle it had been to have this experience together and since then I am doing all that I can to assist GOL to save as many more children as they can.
Currently I am hosting an angel of a woman named Robinah Nakabuye in my family’s home, who was the second child of all the 10,000+ that have been saved in the last 30+ years. She has devoted her life to helping save the lives of others like her through GOL and is here now to receive yet another surgical procedure to save her life again. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to become her friend and learn what life is like in Uganda and how she is working to give back too.
I will continue to do what I can for the GOL, as they have invited me to be on the Board of Directors which I expect will be very fulfilling and can’t wait to begin starting in July this summer. All I can say is if you are asked to help and you raise Your hand, you will not be disappointed that you did.
May 7, 2009 at 8:53 pm |
Today, Our Hearts Are In Uganda….we welcomed six of our children to NYC today….over 75 Rotarians from Rotary Districts throughout NY/NJ showed up to welcome Lilian, Eric, Jingo, Rodney, Kato, and Annet….24 other children traveled to their destinations today as well…and were welcomed by Rotarians in India, Italy, Jordan, South Korea, the Philippines and others…..please share your experiences during Our Hearts Are In Uganda….
May 15, 2009 at 10:32 am |
Hello from Brett Halvorson in Korea, It has been a great pleasure to be accompanying Jane Nanyombi and her mother Florence here in Korea. Jane had a successful 3 hour operation and is out of the ICU now and is doing well. It has been an experience I will never forget being able to help a child that was in the same position I was when I was 4 years old. Also being in the operating room with the surgeons performing “magic”, is again something that I will never forget. There was some difficulties regarding the language barrier but we were able to locate some Ugandan people here to translate. They have been a great help. May God bless the doctors and all of you who are supporting Gift of Life in giving a second chance to these children!!! Thank you so much.
May 15, 2009 at 11:02 am |
Brett it is great to hear how well all is going for Jane….you have been so central to her being able to receive this surgery…you set up the hospital, traveled to greet her and have helped care for her while she waited for the day of her operation….this must be an amazing experience and I hope that it is the beginning of many more children’s whose lives you will touch…..thank you for being you….rob
May 15, 2009 at 1:33 pm |
Please join in the welcoming of Patrick Kahuma…one of the 30 Ugandan children that will be treated through the Gift of Life International program, “Our Hearts Are In Uganda”….please click on the attached link to read more about the partners that we are working with to help Patrick….they include Samaritan’s Purse, Embrace Uganda, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill…
http://www.embraceuganda.org/doc/PatrickKahumaArrivesintheUS.pdf
May 19, 2009 at 5:37 am |
Owen and Fiona are recovering nicely in Italy….
Dear Francesco and Rob,
This is to say that Phionah and Owen are well and that they will be discharged from hospital on this Thursday 21
Warmest regards
Giancarlo
May 20, 2009 at 3:32 pm |
Hello Rob and Rotarians,
After the emotional day yesterday, We are blessed to continue hearing the success stories of all the kids and the generous hearts of many people around the world. Let us remain united in this love! God bless you always.
Pius
May 20, 2009 at 3:58 pm |
Follow the progress of Jane in Seoul, South Korea by logging onto our Gift of Life program of Rotary District 7500′s website…..
http://www.rotarydistrict7500giftoflife.org/PhotoAlbum.cfm?AlbumID=6136&PhotoID=70800
May 22, 2009 at 10:41 pm |
check out Desire and Tevin in Washington, DC….
[donotreply@snapfish.com]
May 26, 2009 at 9:00 pm |
Here is a story about Herbert in the Philippines….
Rotary Club of Makati West
Please check out page 4 regarding Ugandan child in the Philippines.
Lou
May 28, 2009 at 8:20 pm |
great article on Mich in Tampa…..
http://www.ocala.com/article/20090527/ARTICLES/905271004