Lee visits young heart surgery patients in India

By Ryan Hyland
Rotary International News - 8 October 2007

RI President-elect Dong Kurn Lee

Mohd Ayud Bhatt was moved to tears of joy when RI President-elect Dong Kurn Lee chatted with his seven-year-old son, Amir, who was recovering at a hospital in India from heart surgery funded by Rotarians.

Amir had suffered from an acute upper respiratory tract infection that had spread to his heart. Without surgery, the infection would have been fatal. Bhatt couldn’t afford the cost of the procedure and postoperative treatment, so the Gift of Life program in Delhi, founded and operated by Rotarians, paid for Amir’s care as well as for heart surgeries for five other children.

Lee, who visited Amir and the others at the National Heart Institute in New Delhi on 31 August, sees Gift of Life as an invaluable initiative. “The life of a child is so important,” he says. “Rotary will always continue programs that improve the health and well-being of children.”

Past RI Director Sushil Gupta and A.C. Peter, chief coordinator of Gift of Life India, accompanied Lee on his walk through the hospital as he spoke with each Gift of Life patient and his or her parents.

Afterward, Lee met with doctors and hospital staff to show his appreciation for their work and to emphasize the importance of international partnership. He spoke about Gift of Life as a classic example of Rotarians’ efforts to promote peace and understanding through international community service.

23 Comments:

At 8:43AM on 7 November 2008, Rtn. Dr. Achintya Roy, wrote: Gift of Life is a one of the Best project of ROTARY intiated by PRID Shushil Gupta . It Should continue & every one should participate in this programme . It suppose to be best gift in the world. LONG LIVE ROTARY.

At 10:03AM on 15 September 2008, Rtn. Vincent Joseph wrote: This is truely inspiring & will be a motivation for lots of Clubs to initiate more projects to serve humanity.

At 11:59AM on 21 July 2008, Ramanathan .V . Pres 2008-9 RI 3220 wrote: Giving is blessed. You feel happy when you give. At the same time it's great pleasure for the receiver too So I see GIFT OF LIFE as a valuable and meaningful projects of rotarians.You did it !

At 12:20PM on 26 June 2008, Rtn.Krishna Sagar Rao wrote: DG Lee's theme 'Make dreams real' is rotary gift to children of the world. 'Gift of Life' is a wonderful program which will give another chance to a child to live. It's almost godly, to give life. Thanks to Lee, rotary is doing just that. Rtn.Krishna Sagar Rao Asst.Governor Rotary Club of Hyderabad North Dist: 3150 email: sagar@matrixnova.com visit: www.matrixnova.com Matrix Mentoring Pvt.Ltd

At 9:47AM on 8 April 2008, Abhishek wrote: Thanks to Ravi and Peter for taking this very noble cause and lending their hand of support to many suffering kids and saving their lives.

At 9:15AM on 10 March 2008, Rtn.Katoch B Mr President Elect 15242 wrote: Gift of Life is very good humanatarian programme. The visit of RI President-elect Dong Kurn Lee is apreciable. This makes Rotary great and sharing of Rotary in real sence.When RI President-elect Dong Kurn Lee chatted with his seven-year-old son, Amir, who was recovering at a hospital in India from heart surgery funded by Rotarians he tried to Make Dreams real. of the child. Well done Sir,

At 8:44AM on 13 February 2008, Jim R. Frame wrote: This is the Rotary International News article that I talked with you today.

At 11:39AM on 22 October 2007, Rtn. Amar U. Rajurkar President, R.C. Akola Central Dist: 3030. wrote: A very Good gesture shown & a good example set for our new generation & for our youth who is coming for rotary by our R.I. president elect Dong Kurn Lee..Giving the idea to LEAD THE WAY by SHARING...Truly Your's In Rotary

At 6:40AM on 16 October 2007, RTN MOSES ARYEE wrote: GOOD WARM UP FOR THE HIGHEST POSITION.

At 12:06AM on 16 October 2007, Uday S Palande (President elect for RC of Pune Shaniwarwada, Dist 3130) wrote: Gift of Life is a great humanatarian programme. RI President-elect Dong Kurn Lee's visit shows real rotarian spirit is just awesome. Expecting his visit in our newly formed Dist 3131. Thanks to Ravi Bhoplapur who initiated it.

At 1:51PM on 15 October 2007, Dr Swaraj Bhattacharjee wrote: True rotary sharing

At 12:11PM on 15 October 2007, Aa.Cha.Ashoka Kumara wrote: Gift of Life is very good humanatarian programme. The visit of RI President-elect Dong Kurn Lee is apreciable. This makes Rotary great and sharing of Rotary in real sence. Well done RIPelect Dong Kurn Lee

At 10:07AM on 15 October 2007, PDG M.C.Das 3020 India wrote: "Gift of Life" is one of the great humanitarian programmes, initiated by Ravi Bhooplapur and supported by PRID Shushil Gupta, that is saviing the lives of the "Citizens of Tomorrow". This programme, while giving life to the child, is giving light to the family of the child. I hope that RIPE Lee will make this programme a Global or Thrust-programme. Rotary will be remembered by the little hearts as well as the big hearts. RIPE Lee could think of a global fund for "Gift of Life".

At 9:32AM on 14 October 2007, rtn rajeev singh, RC Dimapur,RID3240 wrote: Gift of life is one of the best projects Rotary has taken as it has helped the poorest of the poor get the treatment free of cost which would not have been possible for them. People from our area have benefitted and 3 of them have been given Gift of Life. Thanks to the person who concieved theidea and thanks to all those who have sponsored the project.

At 12:16AM on 14 October 2007, MASOOD AKBAR wrote: Rtn. Ravi Bhoplapur deserves commendation for initiating a superb program popularly known as GIFT OF LIFE. infact, such projects are the life-blood of an organisation. This project caters for the needs of young generation without discrimination of caste, creed and colour. It is indeed a shining example of Rotory Motto - Service Above Self. Hearty felicitations to Rtn. Ravi Bhoplapur.

At 10:07AM on 13 October 2007, PDG. NAGARAJU. G, 3190, B'LORE wrote: Gift of life is a nice community service project for the needy persons. RIPE D.K. Lee will be invited to visit well known superspeciality cardiac hospital in Bangalore, rendering yeomen service,where rotary is associated to conduct surgeries at a subsidised price.

At 9:58AM on 13 October 2007, CHANDI CHARAN MONDAL; RC BARDHAMAN HERITAGE,R I D 3240 wrote: Actually these types effort s are the life-line of rotary.And we can servive another 100 years or more only if we can continue and intigrate our service in the rotary world

At 2:35AM on 13 October 2007, Rtn. Mubasher Butt: RC Faisalabad (Pakistan) wrote: Gift of LIFE is a unique project of Rotay. it shows service above self of Rotary family. Please continue this noble cause for the welfare of community.

At 8:57PM on 12 October 2007, Shirsendu Sadhu:R C BARDHAMAN HERITAGE,R I D 3240 wrote: This unique and noble initiative by Rotary definately puts A LIFETIME HEIGHT in the MInd of the Our Successors of this Universe.

At 12:28PM on 12 October 2007, YR Bakshi RC Dhauladhar Palampur, RID 3070 wrote: Gift of Life is a one of the Best project intiated by PRID Shushil Gupta and excellent & hard work put on to make it wonderful by AC Peter and Nischal Pandey, brought SMILES on faces of Young Childern of the Country and acroos the border

At 10:25PM on 11 October 2007, PDG Pratap Puranik 3170 wrote: Gift of Life is God's work on planet Earth. I am proud of this progrm as it touches young generation without any discrimination. Thanks to my friend Ravi Bhoplapur (earlier from my District) who initiated it.

At 11:23AM on 11 October 2007, Rotaractor Ibekwe Echezona wrote: Rotary Shares, rotry will always be there to care and will never stop putting smiles on the faces of the people they are supposed to. The most destitute human being is the one without a smile, so we will try to be putting smiles on ther faces. ROTARY WILL ALWAYS KEEP THE BALL ROLLING.

At 9:50PM on 10 October 2007, DR.S.SURESH BABU,RC-OOTACAMUND,RID 3200 wrote: GIFT OF LIFE is really a wonderful project.It is a yeomen service to mankind,especially to our younger generation.Its heartening to note RI President-Elect has visited some of the beneficiaries of this project.

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