It is now seven days since the volunteer surgeons and support staff from the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London arrived in Galle, Sri Lanka, for the start of our 2013 Take Heart Mercy Mission. 

The goal of each mission is to bring help and hope to children with life-threatening heart conditions, whose families cannot afford the expensive treatment their children so urgently need.

This year’s mission is set to be our biggest and best yet as, thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to ship 12 cases of essential equipment, worth over £500,000, to Sri Lanka to improve the facilities on site.

The shipment included operating tables, ultrasound equipment and cardiac assist systems, all of which will greatly enhance the service our team can offer at the Karapitaya Hospital.

Having arrived in Sri Lanka a fortnight ago, the equipment was all installed and has been in constant use since the Take Heart team began their first day of work last Friday. It’s certainly been a busy time for our volunteers who have been working 15 hour days for the last week.

Life-saving operations began immediately with two surgeries taking place on day one and the Take Heart Team have kept up an amazing pace, averaging three operations a day so far. As of this morning, 17 young children have been operated on with a further three due in theatre today.

All bar one of the patients operated on have survived and are now recovering well in the Intensive Care unit at the Karapitaya Hospital.

Mercy Mission 2013 has only been possible due to the great effort by all our supporters who have shown huge generosity with their donations. If you would like to help us make a difference to the lives of young children in Sri Lanka please click here to make a donation.