Top cardiologist has won hearts, quests for minds

When surgeons turn writers, most will tell stories of their exemplary grade-lined-road that led them to the theatre. They tell of their exploits, of playing God, and of performing miracles on their patients while telling personal stories that border on intrusion into their patients’ privacy.

Yet throughout The Girl Who Dared to Dream, Dr Betty Muthoni Gikonyo, CEO and founder of the Karen Hospital, retains her childlike wonder that makes the reader feel as if they are on a fun-filled adventure, which is all the more surprising since she actually reaches great career heights, makes a difference to so many and outperforms many of those who may have been ahead.

It is all told in a chatty style of a meticulous curator. The book is a refreshing read, devoid of jargon, she draws from her own life rather than that of her patients admitting being out of her depths occasionally.

That all dreams are valid is something Dr Gikonyo knows very well. Drawing from her life experiences, she has seen how the great the power of a dream can be.

Her humility shines through as she details her life from a simple village girl who went on to become a doctor, a heart specialist who would go on to found a state-of-the-art regional hospital, all the while enjoying a fulfilling life of a wife and a mother. Her story proves that a professional woman can somehow have it all.

POWER OF A DREAM

The 290 page-turner turned out to be a winner and has now entered a second reprint.

Dr Gikonyo was, however, not happy that her book wasn’t reaching the people who needed the inspiration more – the millions of school going children.

The book has now spawned the ‘Power of a Dream’ tour that has taken the doctor and author far away from her provenance: the little village of Kiamabara in Central Kenya.

Traversing the country to schools and colleges, Betty Gikonyo, who likes to be called Dr (Mrs) Gikonyo, to distinguish herself from her husband, Dr Dan Gikonyo, holds interactive talks with both boys and girls, instilling in them the importance of having and nurturing a dream.

“We began in Nairobi at the Kenya High school, where I had been invited to speak during their prize giving day,” she says. “We have since travelled to parts of western and central, and other regions are on our itinerary.”

Her example is easy to identify with — as a rural child who couldn’t speak proper English and couldn’t understand her Scottish teachers, causing her to perform dismally.

“I came last in my Form One class. But I did not give up, I still held on to the dream of becoming a doctor.”

Compounding matters was the loss of her beloved mother, who succumbed to cancer. “She was my greatest inspiration and she allowed me to grow and continually affirmed my dreams,” she says.

In her talks, she emphasises courage to hold on to a dream against all odds.

“Hard work, passion, perseverance, commitment and self-belief are also vital to the realisation of a dream.

“I challenge youth to follow their passion, to pursue that which they can die for and be ready to be ridiculed for as long as they believe they can do it.”

The god-fearing doctor liberally quotes from the Bible and urges students to do their part as God has already done His and given them the ability to achieve.

“The universe connives to give you that which you want. When you live in the moment, take the opportunities that present themselves to you.

“I started with a dream of becoming a doctor. When I became one, I wanted to be a paediatrician and then a specialist cardiologist. All things worked together to bring me to where I am now.

“This is beyond my wildest dream, but it all started with a dream.”

BRIGHT FUTURE

In her talks, she urges youth to vocalise their dreams since by speaking out loud, they get people to hold them accountable. Growing up in a generation where parents insisted they all topped their classes, Dr Gikonyo admits to coming last and gives practical lessons of how to get ahead. Forming strategic friendships with people she knew would help actualize her dream.

Her message of hope is packaged in a book that may be priced beyond the reach of many students, thus spurring her on this tour.

Mvule Africa Publishers, the producers of her autobiography, are also working on an abridged version of The Girl Who Dared to Dream to make it accessible to more readers.

Dr Gikonyo admits that she has had a full life and one area merged neatly into the other. “I like having things to do and all things bring fulfilment to me. Touching a child’s heart and seeing them go on to life their best life has been gratifying in the same way I feel talking to young people. Their youthful exuberance rejuvenates me and fuels my desire to talk to many more.

“Looking at them I am filled with hope and optimism for our country’s future.”

Dr Gikonyo, however, regrets that she took life too seriously. “I wish I had smelled more flowers along the way, danced in the rain and watched more sunsets, which I hope to do.”

As she sits pretty in the executive chair of the Karen Hospital chief executive’s boardroom, elegant with a string of pearls, she sips water from a bottle with the cartoon character Bart from the cartoon series 'Simpsons' and you can see that she is serious about making up for lost time.