I will never forget Djamshid Djan Popal’s eyes. He was in pain, and he was afraid. It was 2004, and I was standing outside the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) with a gaggle of reporters from various media. Djamshid was a 9-year-old boy from Afghanistan who had a heart condition and was brought to Canada for life-saving surgery. He had just landed in Ottawa and was heading to CHEO for an examination before being cleared for transport to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Kids. The operation was a success, and Djamshid felt so much better that he asked if he could go home. But, no one ever told him or his father that Djamshid would need care for his whole life—care that wasn’t available in Afghanistan or neighboring Pakistan.
In 2021, a reporter chatted with Djamshid, now in his 20s. He said he regrets leaving Canada and is desperately trying to return. I was heartbroken when I read about that. I kept thinking of the poor 9-year-old looking scaredly from his gurney. He was given so much hope but ended up essentially lost. This raises the question: How do we help children in need and keep that continuity of care for their entire lifespan? The answer is education, which is fitting for our semiannual education issue. An Edina-based nonprofit has created an innovative system called Children’s HeartLink Centers of Excellence, where it works with doctors, nurses and even local governments on how to build heart treatment hospitals. The plan has worked in Brazil, China, India, Vietnam and is now expanding into parts of Africa.
From the international stage to the local platform, we bring you our yearly Senior Spotlight, which features three high school students who are making a difference in their schools and communities. Speaking of making a difference in schools, we also sit down with Valley View Middle School’s principal Patrick Bass and explore how he created the Valley View Vibe.
We hope this issue inspires you to learn and reach out to others in the community to show everyone how you can make a difference.
