Intelligent Bloke ...
 
A friend is someone who walks in when the whole world has walked out...
 

June 01, 2006

Saving those little hearts ...


A team of doctors and philanthropists is saving through charity the most precious property of any family: children. The Tiny Hearts Foundation, formed by a group of surgeons, identifies children with congenital heart defects from economically weak sections for surgery under its network that arranges for funds. It appeals to donors through its website and voluntary organisations.

The coordinator of the foundation and cardio-thoracic surgeon of Sri Ramakrishna Hospital in Coimbatore, India, K. Vijayakumar, says the movement began with the intention of helping poor families who desperately want to save their young ones.

"They know their children have fatal heart problems but do not have the money for the surgery," he says. The foundation brings the donors and the waitlisted patients together. Its message is: "Lend a heart to mend a heart."

A number of children lined up for surgery suffer from Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), and are in need of financial assistance. ASD is a hole in the wall between the atriums (two upper chambers of the heart), and commonest of debilitating congenital heart diseases. There are cases of Ventricular Septal Defect (problem in the lower chambers) that had been operated upon. The foundation has even helped in the surgery for children suffering from the transposition of arteries - a defect wherein the pulmonary artery (right side of the heart) and the aorta (on the left) are trans-positioned at birth, causing cyanosis (blue babies due to pumping of impure blood into the whole body).

Such a surgery, costing around Rs. 70,000, was done on a 50-day old child by cardio-thoracic surgeon at the hospital, L. Mohanakrishnan, under this programme.

Donors can contact the foundation on 0422-2212775 or 0422-2215820 or visit www.tinyheartsfoundation.org