– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade (bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)
I saw Dr. William Magee Jr. crying in a TV program. It was the program Hour of Power with the Rev. Dr. Robert Schuler in California. Both could not contain their tears in this TV program.
Dr. William Magee Jr. was a plastic surgeon in Norfolk, Va. In 1981 when he decided to travel to Philippines to operate on children with cleft lips and other facial deformities. Unfortunately, there were so many children with this deformity, a deformity that can render it impossible for them to speak or eat, that hundreds had to be turned away.
This caused Dr. Magee and his wife, Kathy S. Magee, a nurse, to found an organization called Operation Smile.
Operation Smile sends volunteer doctors to perform reconstructive facial surgery for children worldwide. «It wasn’t a strategic plan», said Magee. «It was just a matter of emotion and passion to make sure children didn’t have to live this way.»
The group, which already has treated 50,000 children worldwide, also trains doctors in other nations to perform the procedure. Magee hopes to use satellite technology in the future, so he can teach a greater number of medical professionals the necessary techniques.
Dr. Magee didn’t have to do that. He could have justified himself. «What’s in it for me? There are so many children in my own city whose parents or whose insurance company could pay for this surgery. I’m a busy doctor here. I don’t have to go half way around and minister to indigent children. Not my problem».
I doubt if Dr. Magee even wondered if this act of service would get him into Heaven. He simply saw a need and filled it. He became a Good Samaritan, encouraging fellow surgeons to become Good Samaritans.
God loves you and so do I.
Fr. Bernardino Andrade
You can read more about Operation Smile on their website: https://www.operationsmile.org/vision/our-story