Ankur Desai

Mesfin, what was it about your experience that made you want to pay it back?

I realized that shadowing a cardiac perfusionist, this is exactly what I wanted to do because I have been into that operating table and I know what it's like to be a patient.

The fear, all the flashback, I decided at that moment to be a cardiac perfusionist and be able to help others.

And how did it come about you both working together in Ethiopia?

What brought us full circle was the heart attack, Ethiopia.

They contacted me.

I did not know that Dr. Jim Kautner was coming to this mission trip, but we both was confused.

a bit surprised.

And when we saw each other, this is like, you know, an incredible life circle moments.

We bonded, rebonded so quickly, and we were able to pick up where we left off, meaning I was his patient, and then now we are going to save another life.

We completed four series of missions with over 400 patients' lives saved.

We are trying to build a local system, training surgeons, perfusionists, nurses and overall cardiac teams.

Jim, you must be proud of MESFEN.

My final question is, how does it feel to help other people together?

It's a dream come true life.

Just working along with a surgeon who operated on me once, and now we're operating together, helping others is such a wonderful meaning.

You know, we're given somebody's child or hope.

And what strikes me sometimes when I see patients and tell them I had an open heart surgery just like theirs, that itself gives them a peace that they have a hope.

It's such an amazing privilege that we have to be together and to serve together.

I am just so beyond thankful.