The Malta Independent on Sunday
The Malta Heart Foundation dinner
In the very busy month of December The Malta Heart Foundation held a fundraising Gala dinner at Le Méridien in St Julian’s. There was elegance, black ties (but also open shirts) and a cheerful crowd many of whom had undergone some heart operation or another and the fact that they were present and enjoying life says much for the surgeons, cardiologists and all those connected with the heart. If only our ‘emolional’ hearts could be so briskly repaired.
Among the many who attended were Prof. Albert Fenech, Consultant Cardiologist and Mr Alex Manché, Cardiothoracic Surgeon - both founding members of the MHF. There were others there who leave people better than they found them.
Isabelle Vella, as dynamic as ever and who played a big part mostly behind the scenes, told me that the tickets had sold in no time.
I said to myself as I sat down: ‘Now if I am going to have a heart attack or indeed anything else connected with medicine, this was the place to have it. All those doctors and health care professionals would know exactly how to handle the situation. ***
The Malta Heart Foundation clearly has many admirers and supporters. Its achievements over the years, have been substantial since its foundation on in April 2009. It has donated external defibrillators to the law courts, the national football stadium, the Ta’ Qali market, Manoel Theatre, the Arka Foundation, the Maltese Olympic Committee for use at the Functional Diagnostic Laboratory at the Tal-Qroqq Complex and others. It also provided exercise machines to two transplant patients. Then there was the donation of the Intra Aortic Balloon Pump to Master Dei Hospital. I learnt this is of great help to professionals when caring for patients with a very weak heart. This sophisticated equipment is used when drug treatment will be insufficient to keep the patient alive while waiting for recovery as in post heart surgery and /or during angioplasty. The pump is actually an inflated special balloon placed inside the patient’s circulation at precisely the right time, giving the patient an extra beat, thereby improving the circulation. It is also known as a left ventricular assist device and has saved over three million lives worldwide since its invention by Dr Adrian Kantrowitz in 1967.
I am wondering whether I should not equip my flat at least with a defibrillator. ***
Still in its infancy the Foundation is working tirelessly to raise funds and awareness to promote the importance of a healthy lifestyle for the prevention of heart disease.
One of the highlights of this pleasant evening was the auction and raffle conducted by Isabelle Vella who enthused those present and encouraged them to dig deep into their pockets. The prizes, behind which were generous donors, were worth the digging.
But there were other highlights. In fact it was an evening replete with highlights, not to forget the generous buffet.
The music had my approval throughout. Sammy Galea now in his 80s, Sammy Murgo, no spring chicken, Alex Manché wearing another of his hats, Philip Farrugia Randon sang accompanied by Sammy and Alex. At the end of his song he told us that he had had a heart operation only a few weeks back and expressed his admiration and gave thanks to our rock star consultant cardiothoractic surgeon Mr Manché.
Dr Lyndon Hadley-Coates, former MHF chairman sang Georgia and spoke so well about the Foundation. There was more music we all love: Over the rainbow, How insensitive, All I ask of you. Sammy Galea then sat at the piano. He plays with such ease, beautiful music – Chopin included. I asked his wife Doreen if he plays for her. ‘Yes,’ she told me, ‘he plays all day.’ Wonderful. What a change from the noisy music which is often what we get almost everywhere these days.
Prof. Albert Fenech said a few words but did not sing that evening. Maurice Mizzi had to cancel his singing date as he had a cold but Shirley, looking glamorous as usual, came along – adding further sophistication to the evening.
The new chairman of the Malta Heart Foundation is Mr Samuel Attard who is still studying medicine. It seems that the younger generation are now going to run the Foundation. There were quite a few young people present and at one time on the podium.
This is one of those Foundations which makes proper use of donations and its fundraising funds. May it go from strength to strength.
Most of us, sooner or later, are going to have a heart problem. All those pastizzi and mqaret and a sendentary lifestyle cannot do our hearts much good, as we very well know but we persist in our bad habits.
I think I’ll invest in a defibrillator, just in case.
Lovely evening. How heartening to know we have so many clever doctors and surgeons in Malta. Incredible for such a small island. mbenoit@independent.com.mt