I recently attended the Paediatric Cardiac Society of India (PCSI) annual Conference which was held in Raipur, India. The theme of the conference was, “Reaching out to the unreached…care continuum” identifying ways in which to help children in marginalised communities receive cardiac care.

Congenital heart defects are a common problem worldwide. In India alone, 9 in every 1000 children are born have some form of congenital heart disease. Other countries such as Africa, Asia, parts of Europe and North America also have high birth rates of children born with congenital heart disease. During the PCSI conference, the cardiologists not only discussed latest medical interventions and techniques for paediatric cardiac care but also how to serve the huge need of marginalised cardiac-diseased children around the world in need of medical attention.
Big hearted doctors and nurses, seeking to help tiny little hearts. It was incredible to see the passion that so many of the attending health professionals displayed in wanting to help the children in need. Their hearts were indeed full of empathy and compassion.
They were a wonderful example, reminding me that compassion makes us look beyond our own needs. It’s a quality that connects us as human beings and helps us to understand the human condition. For as we step into the shoes of the one who is suffering, we feel their pain and as a result, we’re moved to help, to soothe, to heal and to bring comfort.
In truth, our lives hold very little value and meaning if we’re not reaching out to people in times of need. Small kind actions that help a person feel supported and loved is the essence of what compassion entails. A smile, a listening ear, a helping hand or a genuine comforting touch, small things that make a big difference to how a person feels.
So, whilst big community projects are needed in order to help the many underprivileged and suffering in the world, collectively we can all play our small part daily by helping to heal the worldwide problem of diseased hearts. How?
Every day there are people in our lives whose hearts are in need of some tender care because they are experiencing dis-ease through physical, mental, emotional or spiritual suffering. Every day there are hearts that need to be touched by the medicinal properties of compassion. And, we don’t need to be qualified doctors and nurses in order to fix hearts. We just need to be willing to share our heart and distribute the magical healing powers of compassion.
As the wonderful doctors and nurses at the PCSI conference hold passion to help children with defected hearts, let us follow their lead and reach out with compassion to care and comfort the many people in our lives whose hearts, right now, feel broken.

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