Hippodromo resident gets free pacemaker transplant

As anybody who had survived a critical illness will attest, the gift of a renewed, healthier life is undoubtedly the most precious gift anyone can ever receive.

On the other side of the picture, nothing is more rewarding than being instrumental in bringing that gift to somebody.

Felix Burgos, 56 years old, of barangay Hippodromo, Cebu City was the recipient of a pacemaker during a surgery performed at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) on the first week of June 2012.

Heartbeat International and the Rotary Club of Manila Bay, in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente, sponsored the pacemaker transplant.

The two organizations sourced out the pacemaker, while the Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente screened and interviewed the patient.

Dr. Rogie Tanco of Philippine General Hospital and Rotary Club of Manila Bay and Dr. Gertrude Ong of VSMMC were instrumental in the successful operation.

The Pacemaker Project was started during the presidency of the current District 3860 senior assistant governor for Operations Rady Abarintos.

The Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente said in its press statement “the spirit of Mother Teresa lives on as her words continue to inspire our members as they reach out to as many people as they can in the spirit of continuing and selfless service.”

The rotary theme for 2012-3013 is “Peace through service.”

The club said Mother Theresa’s famous words that inspired them to come up with the theme were “The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace.”