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When I first began working in global surgery storytelling, I never imagined the depth of courage and resilience I’d encounter. I was deeply honored to write this piece for the June 2025 issue of the Australian Anaesthetist, highlighting how Lifebox, the global nonprofit working to make surgery and anaesthesia safer, stands with healthcare providers delivering safe surgery and anesthesia—even when everything else is falling apart.
From makeshift operating rooms in war-torn Ukraine to field hospitals in the DRC and overwhelmed wards during the COVID-19 pandemic, this story reflects the power of partnership, innovation, and the unwavering commitment of surgical teams saving lives in the most challenging conditions.
Please read the article, as published in the Australian Anaesthetist, and share your thoughts on how we can continue to build stronger, safer surgical systems, especially during times of crisis. To support Lifebox’s lifesaving work, visit donate.lifebox.org. You can also follow more of my storytelling on Health Binder, where I explore the human side of global health.
“It was a mass casualty event. We had to recall the doctors back from their homes in the wee hours of the morning. We opened 20 operating rooms at once,” recalls Professor Nataliya Matolinets, Medical Director of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at Lviv Emergency Hospital. “Many casualties lost limbs. It was heartbreaking to break that news to them.”
“At Lifebox, we are committed to delivering not just tools and training to improve anaesthesia and surgical safety in low-resource settings but also standing with surgical teams working on the frontlines of humanitarian crises,” said A/Prof Suzi Nou, Lifebox ANZ Chair. “But we can’t do it alone. Sustaining and scaling these lifesaving initiatives requires all of us. We invite organizations and individuals to join us as we make surgery safer amid crisis, in recovery, and beyond.”
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