"Hope comes from seeing people refuse to give up." Dr. Alana Heynes

Project Flamingo Team
May 20
2 min read

Dr. Alana Heynes is a key member of the Project Flamingo team. From her early days at Groote Schuur Hospital to volunteering on the Flamingo lists, she has witnessed firsthand the power of unified care and the difference it makes in a patient’s journey. We got to know her a little better.

⁠What inspired you to get involved with Project Flamingo? I was exposed to the Flamingo lists during my training at Groote Schuur Hospital. I loved the energy, everyone was so happy to be a part of it. There was a sense of togetherness with a common goal which I loved being a part of.
⁠What does ‘making a difference’ mean to you in the context of volunteering here? Making a difference means helping patients get the care they need, sooner. It’s about dignity, hope and restoring their quality of life.
Was there a specific moment or Flamingo story that stuck with you? One moment that stuck out was a patient who was extremely nervous about her surgery. Through her entire admission, the team made her feel special, from the porter's jokes to the laughs and handholding in the theater. It was just an emotional experience for all involved. The care and compassion from the team were overwhelming. It reminded me of why I started medicine in the first place.
⁠How does being part of this mission impact you professionally or personally? Personally, it’s been incredibly humbling watching patients show strength in the face of fear, and witnessing how small acts of support can give someone hope.
In one word, how would you describe the team spirit on surgery day? Why that word? Unified! Everyone, surgeons, nurses, coordinators, and volunteers, works with a shared sense of purpose. There’s a clear understanding that we’re all there for one reason: to make sure each patient receives the timely care they deserve.
⁠What has volunteering here taught you about healthcare in South Africa? I’ve seen how systemic challenges like resource shortages or long waitlists disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. But I’ve also learned that dedicated individuals and collaborative efforts can come up with life-changing solutions, even within a strained system.
⁠If you could change one thing about the public perception of breast cancer care, what would it be? Patients sometimes present too late due to fear of this diagnosis. One thing I would change about the public perception is that Breast cancer, when detected earl,y has an excellent treatment outcome in most cases; each cancer is different, and it does not always lead to a mastectomy. Early detection not only improves the survival outcome, but also allows us more treatment options.
⁠What gives you hope in the face of the challenges we see in the public healthcare system? The resilience and commitment of healthcare workers in an overstretched, stressful environment. Hope doesn’t come from pretending things are fine; it comes from seeing people refuse to give up on making them better.