Women's Portraits

Dr. Danutė Telksnienė

Always smiling, talking in a calm, melodic voice - so today looks 84-year-old Danutė Mačiulytė Telksnienė. For 32 years she was working in Kaunas Republican Hospital Radiology Department as a doctor. She saved the lives from the death for hundreds of people. She was working with oncology patients, to establish the correct diagnosis was the main purpose of her job.

Today, a respected doctor Danutė Telksnienė, a nice senior lady, welcomes numerous visitors and relatives, who like to open her courtyard gate nearby every day. Even her working life is over,she is busy all the day round: she is gardening, renovating her house and supporting those who are in the need.

Danutė was born Šeštokai. Her parents has been railway workers, lived modestly, they had three children in the family. In 1944 together with other four girlfriends she joined the Kaunas Medical University.

At 1964 invited by the professor Trumpulis, Danutė came to work in the radiology department at Kaunas Clinical Hospital. From the first day she worked unlimited hours, trying to do her best helping the patients and sometimes spending a few days without sleep.

In her youth, a doctor played kantele in Kaunas medical  music collective. Working in the clinics, Danutė acquainted with the personality of happy memory, the famous maker of soft sculpture artist Stasė Samulevičienė (1906 - 1988), who created a characters for the puppet theater. The artist liked to gift the toys made of fur, so Danutė made the significant collection of expressive and funny characters. Eventually part of the original collection toys Danutė brought to the Children's Department of Oncology, believing that the joy will help the children to heal faster.

Although the doctor’s job in the Radiology Department was dangerous for her own health, Danutė now at 84 years old is full of energy as she lived a meaningful life.

Ilona Katiliūtė-Shvartz