Italian heart team’s 4th mission in 2010 saves more children’s lives

On July 17, a 6-member team of doctors and nurses from Messa, Italy provided life-saving surgery for sick children from Gaza and the West Bank for the fourth time in 2010.  Led by surgeon Dr. Stefano Luisi, the team also included surgeon Dr. Giovanni Concistrè, cardiologist Dr. Luciano DeSimone, nurse Giuseppina Dolfi and medical engineer Paolo Marcheschi. Perfusion was provided by Southampton, UK specialist Inderaj Bilkhoo.   Dr. Luisi has saved the lives of nearly 100 Palestinian children since he started working with the PCRF in Palestine, not only through visiting missions but also treating our kids for free in Italy.  He also has helped to arrange training for Makassed doctors and nurses in Italy and the transfer of equipment and supplies to the hospital.  The pediatric cardiac surgery program in Makassed is the first and only unit providing life-saving surgery in Palestine.   Over 600 children from all over the country have had life-saving surgery in the past two years, and the goal is to have a completely independent center providing high-quality care for sick children with heart disease.