Ankur Desai

Mesvin Dola, who grew up in a small village, became very sick by the age of 11.

Local doctors couldn't help, so he travelled to the capital of Addis Ababa and asked a charity.

There, he met an American doctor, Rick Hodes, who diagnosed Mesvin and arranged surgery in the US as it wasn't available in Ethiopia.

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He then flew to Atlanta at the age of 15 to be operated on by the heart surgeon Jim Cowton.

Namesvin went home, but complications meant he had to return to the US for a second operation and then remain there.

He grew up to become a cardiac perfusionist, operating the life support machines during surgical procedures just like the ones he'd had as a child.

Now, 25 years after they first met, Mesfin and Jim found themselves performing operations in Ethiopia together through a charity called Heart Attack Ethiopia.

The Happy Pod's Holly Gibbs has been speaking to them.

I thought I was going to die.

And I do remember speaking to Dr. Rick Holtz.

He didn't accept that.

And they were able to bring me back.

And Jim Cowton, Dr. Jim Cowton, he was able to save me for a second time.

I'm beyond thankful.

I owe them literally my life.

It's unbelievable the life I'm living.

And to be, you know, a husband, to have a wonderful two young boys, just having this career is a huge meaning.

It's because of, you know, Dr. Rick Holtz, Dr. Jim Cowton.

Jim, how does it feel hearing that, that you had that much of an impact?