Congenital Heart Disease – Atrial Septal Defect – Surgery sponsored by Dr.Mani Children Heart Foundation – January 2010
8 year old Dhanalakshmi was born with a hole in her heart, an Atrial Septal Defect.
Her parents came to Chennai to make a living. Her mother works as domestic help at two households. Her father is a daily-wages labourer. Together, they earn around Rs.2,500 a month.
That’s far below what was needed for her heart surgery, which would cost an estimated Rs.1,15,000. Yet she was operated in January 2010, the first surgery of the year under the Dr.Mani Children Heart Foundation banner.
A part of her treatment cost was sponsored by the Rotary Club (Chennai Tower branch), initiating what will be a long term relationship between the two organizations which is expected to benefit at least 40 children with congenital heart defects over the next 6 months, probably more.
Dhanalakshmi’s surgery is also partially subsidized by a grant from the State Govt under the Chief Minister’s “Ilam Sirar Idhayam Kappom Thittam”. And today, the little girl fully recovered from her major surgery, visited the Chief Minister at his office for a small ceremony to mark the successful conduct of the scheme over the last year and a half.
She smiled as the CM handed her a small gift. That smile was on her face even as I snapped her photograph earlier. It’s a smile made possible thanks to the generosity and caring shown by donors who support our Foundation.
Thank you from my heart for helping make a difference in her future – and many more as well.
