The Happy Pod: Saving lives with the man who saved mine
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How did Mesfin Dollar's journey with heart surgery begin?
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If journalism is the first draft of history, what happens if that draft is flawed? In 1999, four Russian apartment buildings were bombed, hundreds killed. But even now, we still don't know for sure who did it. It's a mystery that sparked chilling theories. I'm Helena Merriman, and in a new BBC series, I'm talking to the reporters who first covered this story. What did they miss the first time? The History Bureau, Putin and the apartment bombs. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
Myntton on heti valmiina kun vaaditaan räkkautta. Myntton! Uutena makuna omena.
This is the Happy Pod from the BBC World Service. Hello, I'm Ankur Desai and in this edition, how an Ethiopian man who needed two heart operations as a child ended up working with the American surgeon who'd saved him. It's a dream come true life. It's such an amazing privilege to serve together with
I applaud Mesfin for going back home and paying back. I'm very proud of him, what he's done.
Also... I think I could cry all over again. I have goosebumps and butterflies, and it's just to see... It's history made. When I opened it and touched the Braille... It was just freedom.
A Paralympic athlete and guitarist who's blind talks of his joy at being sent a specially designed amplifier. Later on, how a new AI chatbot is helping farmers in rural areas of Malawi. And do stick with me on this one. Why a cow is using a broom to scratch its back and why it's exciting scientists.
The surprising thing was she was using it as a multi-purpose tool. And the other example that we know of in nature comes from the chimpanzees of Congo.
And the girl who joined her dad's wedding photography business at the age of just nine. It's an amazing feeling if your daughter actually wants to come with you to work and then does such an amazing job at the age of nine. I love taking photos. You just see like the world through a different lens. We start with an inspiring full circle story from Ethiopia. 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. He 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.
As I got to know Mesfin, and he was a very determined, charming child, he was easy to like. And after the second operation, we had to put in a mechanical valve. And sometimes the mechanical valves can make clicking sounds. And he goes, well, you know, what's going to happen? The kids are going to hear that, and I'm going to have to explain it. What can I do about that? So we got Mesfin a watch. You know, I just said, wear this watch and tell the kids that what they're hearing is your watch.
And Mesfin, back to you. How grateful are you to Jim and other doctors who helped save you?
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?
Well, I mean, I'm retired now, but I was a cardiac surgeon in practice for 36 and a half years.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
How did Mesfin Dollar's journey with heart surgery begin?
0:00–5:18
2
What was the significance of Mesfin's reunion with Dr. Jim Cowton?
5:18–7:31
3
How does a specially designed amplifier empower a blind musician?
7:31–8:19
4
What role does AI play in assisting farmers in Malawi?
8:19–8:45
5
What surprising behaviors are observed in a famous cow in Austria?
8:45–11:22
6
How is a woman breaking barriers in the male-dominated trucking industry?
11:22–12:09
7
What inspired a young girl to join her father's photography business at a young age?
12:09–13:55
8
What are the highlights of this week's uplifting news stories?
13:55–28:40
Speakers
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