My first trip to Myanmar was definitely an eye-opener, to say the least! Meeting the team, most for the first time, I was excited by the prospect of working alongside such kind-hearted, brilliant and dedicated healthcare professionals that had come together from all over Australia to share their knowledge with the Burmese and fix some very small hearts. My role is a Perfusionist. Most people think that I design perfume; sorry to burst your bubble, but in fact, I manage patients on a heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery. I am somewhat like the surgeons’ security blanket, stopping the patients’ heart beating, cooling them down to very low temperatures, and maintaining the function of the heart, lungs and kidneys during the delicate surgeries.

As we are only here for a week not every patient can be operated on. The difficult task of patient selection occurred, with priority going to those that would have the best outcomes and hopefully live long, healthy lives once their hearts were mended.

The local team was very enthusiastic to get going and show us how their skills and knowledge had improved since our team’s last visit, earlier in the year. I knew it was going to be a great week where both teams were going to work together and learn from each other.

As the first few babies started to be wheeled out of theatre and down the corridor to the ICU it was clear to me just how successful this program is. By the end of the week, surviving long days, language barriers and the odd power blackout, we successfully operated on 14 of the tiniest Burmese. From sewing up holes in hearts, to completely reconstructing the way blood is pumped around their bodies, these children will now be able to live a life that they would otherwise be deprived of due to serious cardiac failure.

At the end of this trip, a humbling sense of fulfilment washes over me. I feel very grateful to be involved with the incredible organisation that is Open Heart International. The impact that their education programs create in the developing world is immeasurable. To be able to share knowledge and skills with locals that will benefit both current and future generations is an incredibly rewarding experience. The education isn’t just one way either - I too have learnt how to adapt and manage situations that I would have not come across from the comfort of my own operating theatres at home. I am grateful for the support of Salutem Consulting that make experiences like this possible for volunteers such as myself and allow the work of OHI to touch the lives of those less fortunate around the world.