What began with one cardiac surgery at St. Francis Hospital in Flower Hill to save a 5-year-old Ugandan girl has morphed into more than 35,000 life-giving operations around the world, largely due to one man: Robbie Donno of Manhasset. The operations have been organized and sponsored by Gift of Life International, a program of Rotary International begun by Donno 44 years ago.
When people ask my profession, I say, Im a garbage man, and I do heart surgery on the side, quipped Donno, 73, a longtime Rotarian and owner of a solid waste business in New Jersey.
In addition to supporting food banks, school scholarships, veterans and other causes, Rotary International has set impressive goals, such as tackling the scourge of polio in 1985, Donno said, noting there were just over 100 new cases of polio in the world last year.
Basically, the effort over these 30 some odd years has led to almost complete eradication of polio in the world, he said.
From the age of 14, Donno reluctantly accompanied his dad, Dante, to meetings at the Manhasset Rotary Club. When his dad died a decade later and Robbie took over the family business, he joined Rotary, too.
I felt I had to keep my pulse on the finger of the community, Donno explained. So I joined, and I saw they were doing really good things, on a local level mostly.
Get the scoop on events, nightlife, day trips, family fun and things to do on Long Island.
By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.
Donno was called to action in December 1973, when he read an article in Rotarian Magazine about Margaret Rose, a young Ugandan woman whose face was severely disfigured by a hyena attack. He immediately wanted to get her the reconstructive surgery she needed.
Nobody ever did anything like this before, but I was Dantes son, he said of arranging an international surgery. So they couldnt say no to me. I leveraged that.
By the time his Rotary Club had submitted the mandatory paperwork, Rose had been treated at an Australian hospital. The Kampala Rotary Club in Uganda asked Donno if the club would instead consider treating Grace Agwaru, a 5-year-old with the congenital heart condition.
When father and daughter arrived at Kennedy Airport in 1975, Donno, then president of the Manhasset club, was there to greet them.
Graces father, Sylvester, takes a look at me. And Im 29 years old. I got wide lapels and a big mustache, long hair. It wasnt the image of a Rotarian that he expected, Donno said. Later on, Donno said, Sylvester admitted that upon seeing Donno, he nearly turned around and got back on the plane.
Donno enlisted his mother, Stella, to host the Agwarus before the surgery and throughout Graces monthlong convalescence, forging a lifelong bond between the families.
At the end of the day, that feeling I got from Sylvester changed the whole perspective of life, of whats meaningful, Donno said. When the Agwarus departed after the surgery and convalescence, Donno recalled, he stood outside the terminal, reflecting on the enormity of what had transpired and said to himself, "If I die today, my life has been worth living."
At a news conference about Grace's surgery, Donno used the term "giving the gift of life," and the name stuck. In 2003, Rotary International formed Gift of Life International to help coordinate efforts around the world.
Forty-four years later Donno, whose three-year term as director of Gift of Life International just ended, marvels that for the past decade Agwaru has been speaking at Rotary Clubs around the world as a global ambassador.
I have a 44-year history with this woman, whos now giving back to other people. Thats a joy! Donno exclaimed.
About 10 years ago, Gift of Life changed its model to begin developing programs in other countries where medical facilities can offer cardiac surgery, meaning children no longer have to endure the added trauma of traveling far from home. The Uganda Heart Institute in Kampala, the first satellite center, does 200 to 250 pediatric cardiac surgeries a year.
Its about empowering people. Its about economic development, Donno said.
Robina Nakabuye, the second child whose surgery was sponsored by Gift of Life in 1976, is now a grandmother who works for the cardiologist at the Uganda Heart Institute.
Were building generations, Donno remarked. You save a life, and it impacts everybody else.
Agwaru, 49, who recently spent five weeks in New York and New Jersey making presentations to Rotary Clubs and taking part in the Rotary Zone Institute, in Niagara Falls, which provides members leadership training, said her surgery has served as an abiding inspiration for her life.
Right from my childhood, Ive always wanted to give back to Rotary and Gift of Life, said Agwaru, who lives in Kampala and works as a liaison for families in need of surgery, procuring sponsorships for travel abroad for more complex surgeries.
So this really is like my story, and Im seeing my story in these children, Agwaru said.
Added Donno, Theres an old saying, Children are like wet cement: Everything that lands on them makes an impression, We fixed Graces heart, but we made an impression on her spiritual heart. She wants to help. Same with Robina.
Since 2010, El Salvadors Hospital Benjamin Bloom, supported by local Rotary Clubs and Latidos de Esperanza, has been performing about 250 pediatric cardiac surgeries annually. Programs supported by Gift of Life are in development in Romania and Jamaica, both of which will eventually have training centers and hubs for areas beyond their borders.
Its challenging, Donno noted. When we do our presentations, for the most part, it sounds like a piece of cake. Its not. There are a lot of moving parts. And you have to have a real cooperative group of people to make it happen.
Commending Donnos commitment to the organization, Rob Raylman, CEO of Gift of Life International, said, "Robbie Donno provides a great vision for our organization to continue evolving and increasing our impact on the lives of children with heart disease from emerging countries."
Donno recently got involved with the Brentwood community through Evelyn Rodriguez, whose daughter Kayla Cuevas is believed to have been killed by MS-13 gang members in 2016 along with her friend Nisa Mickens.
Evelyn Rodriguez, who was run over on the two-year anniversary of her daughters death while visiting a memorial to the girls, had wanted to become a spokeswoman for Gift of Life in memory of her daughter, Donno explained.
Evelyn was an extraordinary woman in so many ways, said Donno, who along with Agwaru attended a Sept. 15 fundraiser for Gift of Life and a Brentwood High School girls basketball team scholarship in memory of Cuevas and Rodriguez.
Liz Cordero, who helped run the fundraiser said, Robbies work its just beautiful: to see that this humanitarian effort is being done.
Cordero, 56, a parent liaison for the Community School at Brentwood Freshman Center, said that in addition to saving lives, Gift of Life builds relationships.
Thats one of the most crucial things, Cordero said. One family at a time is being touched in so many ways. then that trickles down to towns, communities. Its building community.
Robbie Donno has been married for 50 years to Barbara Donno, the mayor of Plandome Manor for 121/2 years. They have two children, Jackie Munroe, 39, and Matthew Donno, 35, also a member of Manhasset Rotary.
Both of his children accompanied their dad to Rotary events throughout their childhoods and have helped organize fundraisers on behalf of Gift of Life International.
"He set the bar so high that it's almost impossible to reach," said Munroe, who lives in upstate Guilderland. "He feels a connection to each of these kids and each time he's still brought to tears, as if it's the first time he's done this. And he's done this a thousand times."
Dr. Sean Levchuck, 57, chairman of pediatric cardiology at St. Francis Hospital, calls Donno an amazing guy.
The beautiful thing about the Gift of Life is that its really medicine for all the right reasons, said Levchuck, who has performed 10 to 15 surgeries a year for Gift of Life in the past 22 years. Youre reaching out to help somebody less fortunate. Youre reaching out to do some good where people really need it. Its one of those organizations that really doesnt care who gets the credit, as long as it gets done.
Deflecting such praise, Donno talks about the goodness in everyone.
Its a matter of exposing it. In everybodys heart, theres a good spot and its about getting them to realize who they are, he said.
Giving, he said, is circular, impacting the giver as well as the recipient.
I know that people have extreme joy in the love that theyre able to give these children. The joy they have in the giving, is a gift, he said, adding, Ive joked that we should call it Gifts of Life. The gifts keep giving.
According to Gift of Life International:
1.3 million children (just under 1%) are born each year with congenital heart defects
93% of children around the world dont have access to medical care to cure heart disease
35,120 children have been saved through Rotary Internationals Gift of Life
81 different countries are represented by the children who undergo Gift of Life heart surgeries
200 countries have Rotary Clubs
1.2 million-plus Rotarians belong to 35,000 Rotary Clubs
This is the platform that Gift of Life operates in, says Robbie Donno. Rotary is an army.
To learn more or donate, visit giftoflifeinternational.org
By Arlene Gross Special to Newsday
More:
LI 'garbage man' does 'heart surgery on the side' - Newsday
- Pediatric Cardiology - Pediatrics - University of Rochester Medical Center - April 10th, 2018 [April 10th, 2018]
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology UT Southwestern, Dallas ... - May 7th, 2018 [May 7th, 2018]
- Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology - Massachusetts ... - May 14th, 2018 [May 14th, 2018]
- Pediatric Cardiology Services | Miami | South Florida - June 11th, 2018 [June 11th, 2018]
- RWJMG | Division of Pediatric Cardiology - July 2nd, 2018 [July 2nd, 2018]
- Locations and Directions | Pediatric Cardiology Consultants - July 5th, 2018 [July 5th, 2018]
- Heart Center | MUSC Children's Health | Charleston, SC - July 15th, 2018 [July 15th, 2018]
- Pediatric Cardiologist: Job Description & Career Requirements - July 30th, 2018 [July 30th, 2018]
- Pediatric Cardiology Associates | MEDNAX - August 6th, 2018 [August 6th, 2018]
- Cardiology - Wikipedia - October 15th, 2018 [October 15th, 2018]
- UnityPoint Clinic Pediatric Cardiolgy - November 5th, 2018 [November 5th, 2018]
- Pediatric Cardiology - Pediatrics - University of ... - November 7th, 2018 [November 7th, 2018]
- Pediatric Cardiology | Weill Cornell Medicine - November 7th, 2018 [November 7th, 2018]
- Cardiology | Department of Pediatrics | Columbia ... - November 7th, 2018 [November 7th, 2018]
- Pediatric Cardiology - UofL Physicians - November 18th, 2018 [November 18th, 2018]
- PCA - Pediatric Cardiology Associates - November 30th, 2018 [November 30th, 2018]
- Capital District Pediatric Cardiology Associates - December 9th, 2018 [December 9th, 2018]
- Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery (Heart Center) - December 23rd, 2018 [December 23rd, 2018]
- Pediatric Cardiology | Child Cardiology in Louisville ... - December 25th, 2018 [December 25th, 2018]
- Pediatric Cardiology - GHS Childrens - January 28th, 2019 [January 28th, 2019]
- Pediatric Cardiology in New Jersey | Pediatric Heart ... - February 26th, 2019 [February 26th, 2019]
- Overview - Pediatric Cardiology - Mayo Clinic - March 10th, 2019 [March 10th, 2019]
- Pediatric Cardiology | MUSC | Charleston, SC - March 13th, 2019 [March 13th, 2019]
- Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship | Pediatrics at Vanderbilt - March 14th, 2019 [March 14th, 2019]
- Pediatric Cardiology Conferences 2020 | Pediatric Congress ... - March 27th, 2019 [March 27th, 2019]
- Pediatric Cardiology - childrensaterlanger.org - April 4th, 2019 [April 4th, 2019]
- Cardiology | Department of Pediatrics - April 4th, 2019 [April 4th, 2019]
- Pediatric Cardiology - All Volumes & Issues - Springer - April 4th, 2019 [April 4th, 2019]
- Pediatric Cardiology NJ | Pediatric Cardiology New Jersey - April 27th, 2019 [April 27th, 2019]
- Pediatric Cardiology Certification | The American Board of ... - May 12th, 2019 [May 12th, 2019]
- Pediatric Cardiology Center of Oregon - May 12th, 2019 [May 12th, 2019]
- Confirm Rx ICM allies with SharpSense technology and syncs to a smartphone for a superior performance - Cardiac Rhythm News - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Five Atlantic Health System Team Members Lauded by NJAHA - Patch.com - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Doctors of Distinction: Saluting Westchester's top physicians - Westfair Online - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Biology at the Speed of Life - Technology Networks - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- New Study Discovers the Three-Dimensional Structure of the Genome Replication Machine - Newswise - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Universal Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Devices Market Forecast 2019 Catheters, Guidewires, Balloons, Balloon inflation devices, Stents - The... - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Devices Market Growing Demand and Supply 2019 to 2025 - Weekly Spy - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- On The Move - Times Union - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Pediatric Medical Devices Market Opportunity will Rise to US$ 41000 Mn by 2026 - Space Market Research - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Market: Industry Development Scenario and Forecast to 2025 - Space Market Research - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- Global Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Market - Segmented By Type, Application, Technology and Geography - Growth, Trends & Forecast (2019 -... - October 11th, 2019 [October 11th, 2019]
- Want To Know What Equipment Your Pediatricians Use? Here It Is - Healthcare Tech Outlook - October 11th, 2019 [October 11th, 2019]
- Israeli organisation to set up cardiology centre in Rwanda - The New Times - October 11th, 2019 [October 11th, 2019]
- Global Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Market Industry Analysis and Forecast (2018-2026) - Weekly Spy - October 11th, 2019 [October 11th, 2019]
- Media Fall Prey to Researcher Warnings on Men's Drinking Before Conception - NewsBusters - October 11th, 2019 [October 11th, 2019]
- Cleveland Clinics annual Medical Innovation Summit to focus on caring for every life - cleveland.com - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- Children's hospital to open 4-story addition in November - Newsday - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Announces Arkansas Children's Hospital as Their 28th Certified Duchenne Care Center - P&T Community - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- Top heart surgeon returns to All Childrens, 3 years after being pushed out - Tampa Bay Times - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- Innovative research on Pediatrics Healthcare Market Outlook to 2019 -2026 Top Companies including GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Merck,... - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- MEDNAX Expands Presence in Florida through Affiliation with Leading Pediatric Plastic Surgery Practice - Business Wire - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- Apple hires another prominent cardiologist as it makes heart health a big area of focus - CNBC - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- Ovid Therapeutics Announces Senior Management Promotions in Preparation for Multiple Data Readouts Expected in 2020 - GlobeNewswire - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- First Large-Scale Registry to Evaluate Real-World Lipid Management and Effectiveness of PCSK9 Inhibitors Announced - Cath Lab Digest - November 15th, 2019 [November 15th, 2019]
- Ramesh Hospitals Vijayawada sets Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of cardiac surgery patients at one place - Yahoo India News - November 15th, 2019 [November 15th, 2019]
- Market Live: Global Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Devices Market Can Deliver up to High CAGR over the next Few Years - Justnewsindustry - November 21st, 2019 [November 21st, 2019]
- You've got to have heart: Inside UNC Health Care's fight to save a baby with rare transplant - WRAL Tech Wire - November 21st, 2019 [November 21st, 2019]
- Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Devices Market to Record Ascending Growth by 2015 2021 - Downey Magazine - December 3rd, 2019 [December 3rd, 2019]
- Northwest Medical Center Gets Dedicated State-of-the-Art Pediatric ER - Coral Springs Talk - December 3rd, 2019 [December 3rd, 2019]
- New research reveals how antiretroviral drugs may damage the hearts of infants exposed to HIV but uninfected - UB News Center - December 3rd, 2019 [December 3rd, 2019]
- FAQ: An Update on the St. Christopher's Hospital Acquisition - DrexelNow - Drexel Now - December 16th, 2019 [December 16th, 2019]
- Which Of The Top AI Events Is Best Suited For Your Profession? - Forbes - December 16th, 2019 [December 16th, 2019]
- Physician specialties with the highest salaries and the biggest pay increases in 2019 - FierceHealthcare - December 16th, 2019 [December 16th, 2019]
- State-by-state breakdown of the 183 new ASCs opened or announced in 2019 - Becker's ASC Review - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- The news that impacted our communities in 2019 | New Today - Uniontown Herald Standard - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- Father and son both healthy after heart defects at birth - KFSN-TV - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- YOUR HEALTH: He got his dads heart. That wasnt necessarily a good thing - WQAD Moline - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- MEDNAX (NYSE:MD) Rating Lowered to Neutral at Citigroup - Riverton Roll - January 3rd, 2020 [January 3rd, 2020]
- MEDNAX (NYSE:MD) Downgraded to Neutral at Citigroup - Riverton Roll - January 10th, 2020 [January 10th, 2020]
- January Is Thyroid Awareness Month - Newswise - January 10th, 2020 [January 10th, 2020]
- The new year rings in 110 new Drexel Med employees - Drexel University The Triangle Online - January 10th, 2020 [January 10th, 2020]
- Could 2020 be the year of women in cardiology? - Cardiovascular Business - January 10th, 2020 [January 10th, 2020]
- New product developments and trends of Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Market during 2019-2025 - Fusion Science Academy - January 18th, 2020 [January 18th, 2020]
- MEDNAX (NYSE:MD) Lowered to Neutral at Citigroup - Riverton Roll - January 18th, 2020 [January 18th, 2020]
- Major Heart Organizations Now Led by Women - Medscape - January 18th, 2020 [January 18th, 2020]
- Cleveland Clinic Names New Chair of Hillcrest Hospitals Board of Trustees - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic - January 18th, 2020 [January 18th, 2020]
- MEDNAX Inc to Post Q4 2019 Earnings of $0.85 Per Share, Jefferies Financial Group Forecasts (NYSE:MD) - Riverton Roll - February 1st, 2020 [February 1st, 2020]
- Lower Stress, Stay Optimistic, and Avoid Heart Attacks- Mount Sinai Health System - Yahoo Finance - February 1st, 2020 [February 1st, 2020]
- Lower Stress, Stay Optimistic, and Avoid Heart Attacks - Cath Lab Digest - February 1st, 2020 [February 1st, 2020]