Long Island physician works with Gift of Life Foundation (05/17/98)

Long Island physician works with Gift of Life Foundation

VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. - Dr. Sean Levchuck, pediatric cardiologist at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, Long Island, is well known for his kindness, generosity and professionalism in dealing with his patients and their families. He has immersed himself in the work of the Gift of Life Foundation, performing life-saving open-heart surgery on children, for which he receives no fees. Likewise, hospital space is donated to the young patient at no cost. Only a minimal amount of $5,000 is charged for unavoidable expenses related to an operation that usually costs between $50,000 and 75,000.

Gift of Life Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation administered by participating Rotarians for the purpose of providing open-heart surgery to needy children throughout the world.

Over the past three years, auxiliary Ukrainian Gift of Life Committees in New York and New Jersey have brought approximately 20 children from Ukraine for complicated open-heart operations. During their stay the patients and their mothers are cared for by members of the Ukrainian Gift of Life Committee and the Church, which is involved through the Apostolate of Pastoral Care of the Sick.

The following interview was conducted by the Rev. Deacon Yourij Malachowsky, a member of the board of directors of the Ukrainian Gift of Life Committee.

Q: Dr. Levchuck, you are known as one of the best pediatric cardiologists in the United States. Please tell us what induced you to join the Gift of Life project?

A: I was drawn to the Gift of Life program because of my desire to give something back to society. I have been very fortunate in life. I have wonderful parents, siblings and friends. I have a great wife. I wanted to help someone less fortunate than myself.

Q: Is it possible for you to determine the prognosis of a given patient at the time of surgery?

A: We usually can determine the prognosis of a patient prior to surgery by echocardiography, catheterization and angiography.

Q: Do you plan to visit Ukraine to acquaint Ukrainian pediatric cardiac surgeons with the newest advances in your field?

A: I plan to visit Ukraine and I would welcome the opportunity to work with the Ukrainian pediatric cardiologists. I'm sure we can both benefit from interaction of this type.

Q: Would it be possible and expedient to draw into this project general pediatricians not specialized in cardiac surgery?

A: My feeling is that if general pediatricians become involved then the project will grow and prosper. They are the frontline and can often identify a patient before complications develop.

Q: During my hospital visits, I have noticed a very warm and comforting attitude toward the children and their mothers on the part of medical personnel. Considering that the children's hospital stay is free of charge, is the attitude of the hospital administration likewise positive and welcoming?

A: The hospital administration, and especially our outstanding nursing staff, are exceptionally kind and supportive of the program. There is an overall outpouring of warm wishes towards these patients.

Q: We all admire you, Dr. Levchuck; not only do you save children's lives, you put in effort into raising the necessary $5,000 per child. Please explain how you go about doing this.

A: To facilitate bringing more children for treatment, I organized and participated in a fund-raiser: the Gift of Life All-Stars is an ice hockey team comprising local professionals and businessmen. We played in an exhibition ice hockey game against retired New York Islanders. The game and raffle raised $40,000, enough for eight more children.

Q: Finally, we would like to learn something about you personally; we know that you are a descendant of one of the first Ukrainian settlers in the United States.

A: I'm very proud of my Ukrainian roots. I never met my grandfather Stephen Levchuk, but I was very close to my grandmother, Anna. My parents have always encouraged us to participate in Ukrainian traditions. I think the Ukrainian people are a very determined people. I think my parents and my siblings all exemplify the spirit of the race.

Q: Thank you, Dr. Levchuck, on behalf of the board of directors of the Ukrainian Gift of Life Committee, I wish you further success in your professional and personal life. God bless you for your generous heart and your noble deeds.