Manas helps give 8 children's hearts a beating chance

Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Hanson gives a stuffed toy to a recovering patient during a visit March 4 to the Children's Heart Hospital in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. During the visit, Sergeant Hanson and other Manas Air Base Outreach Society members spent off-duty time with children who have congenital heart defects and require life-saving surgeries. MABOS also donated approximately $4,500 to the hospital to pay for eight heart surgeries in addition to the 129 funded since 2003. Sergeant Hanson is assigned the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs and is deployed from Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. She is originally from Soldier, Iowa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Damien Pickart)

Manas helps give 8 children's hearts a beating chance

A 5-year-old Kyrgyz girl recovering from heart surgery discovers the joys of bubble blowing for the first time March 4 at the Bishkek Institute of Cardiology, known as the Children's Heart Hospital, in Kyrgyzstan. Airmen with the Manas Air Base Outreach Society spent some of their off-duty time with the young patients in the heart ward. During this visit, MABOS donated approximately $4,500 to the hospital to pay for eight heart surgeries, in addition to 129 others funded by MABOS since 2003. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Damien Pickart)

Manas helps give 8 children's hearts a beating chance

Staff Sgt. Louis Calvao (left) hands out gifts to patients as their families look on during a March 4 visit to the Bishkek Institute of Cardiology, known as the Children's Heart Hospital, in Kyrgyzstan. During their off-duty time, Airmen participate in the Manas Air Base Outreach Society, a private, non-profit organization that supports charities, hospitals and orphanages in the greater Bishkek area and communities near the base. During this visit, MABOS donated approximately $4,500 to the hospital to pay for eight heart surgeries in addition to 129 others funded since 2003. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Maj. Damien Pickart)

Manas helps give 8 children's hearts a beating chance

Master Sgt. Ken Hart teaches children the art of bubble blowing during a March 4 visit to the Bishkek Institute of Cardiology, known as the Children's Heart Hospital, in Kyrgyzstan. Airmen with the Manas Air Base Outreach Society spent some of their off-duty time with the young patients in the heart ward. During this visit, MABOS donated approximately $4,500 to the hospital to pay for eight heart surgeries in addition to the 129 others funded since 2003. Sergeant Hart is assigned to the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron and is deployed from the 27th Special Operations Force Support Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. He is originally from Augusta, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Damien Pickart)

Manas helps give 8 children's hearts a beating chance

Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Hanson sits with two heart surgery patients as they pick out their favorite stuffed toy March 4 at the Children's Heart Hospital in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. During the visit, Sergeant Hanson and several other Manas Air Base Outreach Society volunteers spent off-duty time with children who suffer from congenital heart defects and require life-saving surgeries. They also donated approximately $4,500 to the hospital to fund another eight heart surgeries on top of the 129 MABOS has funded since 2003. Sergeant Hanson is assigned to the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs office and is deployed from Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. She is originally from Soldier, Iowa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Damien Pickart)

Manas helps give 8 children's hearts a beating chance

Published March 10, 2009
By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Hanson
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan -- Manas Air Base members continue to keep promises and give hope to children in need at Bishkek Institute of Cardiology, known as the Children's Heart Hospital.

While paying a visit with young patients March 4, Airmen brought in box loads of plush toys, arts and craft supplies, along with a surprise gift - a $4,500 donation.

While infants, children and teens enjoyed the gifts that Manas Air Base Outreach Society members consistently bring, the parents and doctors were more than overjoyed by the presentation of a life-size check made out to the Children's Heart Hospital. The generous donation will fund eight heart surgeries at approximately $560 each.

"The kids at the Heart Ward who need cardiac surgery don't seem to realize the scope of what they're up against," said Capt. Sean Brazel, 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron deputy commander.

"This was my second trip to the heart ward. I wanted to interact with local Kyrgyz nationals and lend a hand to some of the families with hopes of leaving a positive impression of Americans," said Captain Brazel.

"They don't understand that the quality of their medical facility might be considered 'run down' by many in other countries. They do however, understand the value of a good coloring book or stuffed animal and for two hours, they got to have fun with a bunch of people who spoke a different language," said Captain Brazel, who is deployed from Headquarters Air Force, Manpower and Personnel, at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

"The general state of the hospital made me appreciate the hospitals and medical care facilities that we have in the states," said Captain Brazel. "The Heart Ward itself seemed outdated, but the staff seemed to be dedicated professionals who take exceptionally good care of their patients."

"After playing for several hours, I realized that kids are kids everywhere and they simply want to be healthy enough to play and have fun," said the Moultrie, Ga., native.

The decision to donate approximately $4,500 was all about timing. The First Four leadership group from Manas Air Base, made up of junior enlisted Airmen, donated more than $1,000 to MABOS. At the same time, there was an urgent need for eight surgeries at the Heart Hospital. Members of MABOS set up an impromptu meeting to hold an immediate vote to add the additional monies to cover the urgently-needed surgeries. The vote was unanimous "yes".

"I volunteered to go on this visit because of both my curiosity of what the facility was like and to see the treatment the kids receive," said Master Sgt. Ken Hart of the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron.

"But, I was really looking forward to spending time with the children. I'd read and heard about the institute needing our help. I just didn't realize how vital the need was for us to be there until I spent time with the kids," he said.

"What was so enjoyable to me was the little boy that wouldn't let me stop blowing bubbles until he decided he wanted to color instead," said the native of Broken Arrow, Okla.
"The looks of gratitude from the people we visited are something a person doesn't forget," said Sergeant Hart, who is deployed from the 2nd Manpower Requirements Squadron at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.

"The general state of the hospital made me appreciate the hospitals and medical care facilities that we have in the states," he added.

"The Heart Ward itself seemed outdated, but the medical staff really appeared to be dedicated professionals who take exceptionally good care of their patients. If what we do helps make a difference in their lives, I'm glad I could be a part of it all." said Sergeant Hart, who is deployed from the 2nd Manpower Requirements Squadron at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.