“When you’re a heart surgeon, that’s what you do…
If you are his wife, you tag along and find something useful to do.”

After retiring from a distinguished career as a cardiac surgeon in New Zealand, Dr Alan Kerr led a Kiwi team to Gaza and the West Bank to operate on children with heart disease. What started as a two-week visit became an enduring 20-year commitment to Palestine, involving 40 medical missions to Gaza and the West bank and hundreds of operations.

Dr Kerr recognised the need for, and was instrumental in the establishment of, an independent Palestinian cardiac unit. He trained the first Palestinian paediatric cardiac surgeon and has been recognised as the ‘Father of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery' in Palestine. However, he couldn't have achieved this on his own. His wife, Hazel Kerr, travelled with him - bringing a different kind of healing to the people she met in Palestine.

By award-winning documentary maker and director Paula Whetu Jones, this film was made entirely by fundraising, donations and support in kind. Thank you to everyone who supported us.

Attendance is free. Koha received will go towards supporting NZ medical missions to Palestine lead by Heart Surgery for Palestinian Children (NZ) or HSPC(NZ). and will fund further free screenings.

Introduction to the film by Janfrie Wakim of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) who was instrumental in getting the film over the line last year and is tireless in her advocacy.

Tea coffee and a light afternoon tea will be available in the foyer after the screening. 

Run time: 74 minutes