Egypt has provided the world with prominent persons in all fields. Dr. Magdi Yacoub is one of the early and most famous pioneers of "open-heart surgery" in the United Kingdom and abroad. He received his Medical Bachelor from Egypt. When teacher Dr. Abu Zekri knew that this excellent student would have a brilliant future, he advised him to study abroad. Yacoub did not travel from Egypt because he was persecuted, as some people allege, or because he was not appointed in the university. He left Egypt to achieve his dreams. He hoped to be an ambassador of the "Pharaonic Medicine" and "Egyptian Surgery" to the modern world. In fact, Egypt is proud of Yacoub, as it is proud of Boutros-Ghali, Ramzi Yassin and other great names in different specialties. These Egyptian Copts, who belong to one of the most prestigious nations on the world, are an extension to other great people, such as Ali Musharafa, Ahmed Zewail, Naguib Mahfouz, and Mohamed El-Baradei. Egypt is proud of its great men and symbols. I still remember the first time when I met with Dr. Yacoub in the early seventies. I saw him in the lobby of the Egyptian consulate general in London where he went to get a visa for his wife, who had belonged to the West Germany at that time. He was, and still is, modest. He does not want to be in the limelight. Nor does he seek posts or positions. When he was knighted by the British Queen Elizabeth II, he also was modest. Indeed, no words can describe his efficiency. He repeatedly refused to take his personal fees from the Egyptians, especially the poor. He established "Series of Hope" association to perform free heart surgeries for the poor children and adults in the jungles of Africa, Asia and other parts of the world. He decided to perform such surgeries regardless of the patients' sex, race, color, or religion. Yacoub gave special care and more attention to Egypt. His activities extended from Cairo to Alexandria and Aswan. Driven by his humanitarian feelings and national affiliations, he adopted a medical center specialized in heart surgeries in Aswan. Moreover, he helps the poor in public hospitals until he has become a symbol of generosity and manhood. He devotes all his time and effort, in this relatively advanced age, to help the poor for free. He also devotes the remaining years of his life to serve people everywhere. This great scientist pushes some people to the highlights and pays tribute to the young doctors. When a child of my relatives had to undergo a simple heat surgery, this great scientist came to Abu El-Reesh Hospital in Cairo and talked with doctors, who are at the age of his children, about the patient's health conditions. He directed the young doctors and gave them great confidence in their successful performance. He takes his daughter with him on his visits to Cairo and gives her lessons in some Egyptian universities so that she could speak Arabic. Yacoub decided to be a heart surgeon when his aunt suffered a heart disease. At that time, medicine failed to diagnose her condition or find a medicine for her. I'm lucky to see this great surgeon two times a year at least, as we are members in the Board of Trustees of the British University in Egypt. This clear, calm and peaceful man has not changed. He is completely satisfied with his life. He also has a great ability to make a good opinion at the right time. Once I call him on his mobile phone or on his secretaries in London, he does not hesitate to help patients. Two years ago, a very strange situation happened when I received a phone call from an Egyptian family to complain about the deteriorating health conditions of the breadwinner and hope if Dr. Yacoub could see him in the British capital as soon as possible because the situation was urgent. Therefore, I called Dr Yacoub, who was in Cairo to continue his great humanitarian journey. When I told him the story, he asked me to tell the patient to go to him immediately. This Egyptian family, who was dreaming of traveling to Yacoub even after several weeks to save the patient, was surprised when Yacoub allowed the patient to see him in a Cairo hospital after less than two hours. The lucky patient underwent the surgery and became good. He is Dr. Magdi Yacoub who has never differentiated between patients on the grounds of poverty or wealth or religion or nationality. He always deals with people as human beings. The great man and his "Series of Hope" will continue to help people.
