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A World First - What Took
Place?
Kokoda With Heart
is a universal story of the human spirit, yet it is also
a triumph of medical management and positive steps
towards better health.
It’s the story of three heart by-pass patients wanting
far more out of life than mere survival: they take on
one of the toughest physical challenges in the world –
the legendary Kokoda Track - to shatter the boundaries,
attitudes and condescension that all heart patients
experience.
Kokoda With Heart follows
their journey from the soft, city life in Australia to
the extreme conditions in the Tropical New Guinea
Highlands. The patient’s cardiologists and families are
strongly opposed to the journey, and despite this
advice, all three are determined to go. The decisions of
these very different characters have powerful and
emotional consequences for each of their families before
they have even packed their bags. Although a small team
of doctors and nurses are organized to accompany the
group, the head specialist makes it clear that there is
little he can do if there is a major cardiac event.
Dr Greg MacDonald, Head of Emergency Care at the Sydney
Adventist Hospital makes his position clear:
“ If your heart stops,
you have four minutes… we’re completely isolated and
can’t possibly take equipment in to handle all the
possible scenarios. In some places even an airlift
would take two to three days… so there’s not a lot I
can do.
The patients are stepping
into the unknown…”
This extraordinary and
engaging story follows the humour, the struggles, the
setbacks and camaraderie of the team, while every minute
poses a genuine risk to the patients of failure and
death. Against the backdrop of the actual track on which
the Australians repelled the invading Japanese forces,
we are constantly reminded of the value of life and the
sacrifices that were made for the lifestyle we all
enjoy.
Opportunities and Audience
Take Away
Audiences will take away a
powerful understanding of the risk of cardiovascular
disease; the consequences and the climb back to health.
It emerges very clearly that there is a great cost to
Australia if cardiovascular disease is ignored, as over
45% of all Australians -regardless of gender - die as a
result of it. Medical costs alone exceed $5 Billion
every year not including the cost to the economy of loss
of productivity.
As an example of managing
cardiac health after surgery, and what can be achieved –
this event is a world first. The three patients set a
new benchmark for cardiac rehabilitation and health
management.
There are many deeply
emotional moments in the documentary when we juxtapose
the heart patients (who have grasped their second
chance at life) with the hundreds of war graves or
historical sites where young Australian soldiers died
without a second chance. We give a new depth and
understanding to the fact that these young men had no
chance, outnumbered ten to one and fighting desperately
in shocking conditions and yet still overcame these odds
to turn the tide of war away from Australia. It is a
powerful reminder to all patients not to waste their
health opportunities, the first or second time around.
Kokoda With Heart
moves and shocks everyone who has seen it – yet the
messages of hope, determination, and courage and health
management live on. The final documentary is expected to
be on air in the first half of 2006.
Kokoda With Heart
is a documentary that records an extraordinary event
never before achieved. |
