Save the Little Heart Scheme (SLHS) - Stories

Gayathri - Hospital No:242857

A.Murugan, (father of Gayathri) I am a farmer, working as a coolie in others’ lands. We live in a remote village, Karuppudaiyanpatti, Dindugul District, Tamilnadu, India. At the birth of a child named Gayathri, nine years before, we didn’t know the real problem of her. She was active and made us happy in her schoolings. Nearly eight months before, she had breathing difficulties and developed pain in her chest. She was taken to the nearby hospital for diagnosis but was given some first aid. The doctor advised us to take the child immediately for further diagnosis in Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai (MMHRC). 

We rushed to the Hospital. After the usual admission procedures followed on 30.12.2006 at the hospital, we met Dr.A.R.Raghuram, senior consultant in Cardio-thoracic & Vascular Surgery. He advised for heart surgery and said that the cost of the same would be around INR. 85,000/- . And he notified me if I would not do surgery for my child, the life of her would be questionable. I had never seen and thought of such a big amount in my life. Even if I work for a whole year, I would not earn such a huge amount. I thought of my relatives and friends. Their economic condition was also mine’s. So I didn’t ask help anybody. Nothing came to my mind. How could a father like me gross immediately that amount? Any how, I had to do something to save the life of my child otherwise I had to loose... 

Then I came to know about the “Save the Little Heart Scheme (SLHS)” through the Surgeon who diagnosed my child. Wherever the place I had to go, whoever he might be I had to meet; keeping the intention in my mind to save the little angle of mine and, I hurried to the concern department to know about SLHS. The people at the department made me calm and reduced my frustration and anxious.

I was amazed and surprised to know that the Hospital and SLHS would take care of my child’s surgery. [To be explained clearly; that the doctor’s fee, Anesthesia fee, hospital stay before, during and after surgery and balanced and hygienic food for the child and also for us cost around INR 45,000/would be contributed by the hospital and remaining amount (INR 40,000/-) of the total cost of surgery would be by SLHS.] And I understood that the SLH Scheme had been initiated to save the children who were from the poor economic status and supported by philanthropic donors. 

The surgery was carried out successfully on 02.01.2007. We spent some days in the hospital after surgery. When we started out of the hospital on 07.01.2007 with my recovered child, tears came from my eyes and I did wholeheartedly thank the hospital and donors for spending enormous money to my child and their efficient service. 

Now Gayathri goes to the local school having dreams in her eyes. Oftenly I think of the days I spent at the hospital and especially the unknown donors; who the donors were and how their faces were, I do not know but they snatched my child from the jaws of death. They brought in happiness among us and they are the saviors of my family. No words to explain their contribution. I thank them with tears. 

Selvan: A.Muthuguru Valvendhan - Hospital No: 248865

The story as told by the patient and his father:

I am Muthuguru Valvendhan. My father is Ambigapathy, a coolie. I am living with my parents and brothers in Therkutheru, Rajapalayam taluk. When I was studying twelfth standard in local Government Higher Secondary School, Kilavikulam, the direction of my normal life slightly deviated from routine.

During my school days, I felt frequently minor pain in my chest especially playing in the ground with my friends. That time my friends advised me to drink water and have rest for a while. I followed their advice. It did also happen in our home also. Sometimes my mother rubbed my chest with some palms to reduce the pain. Sometimes my father brought some soft drinks like surpat to reduce the pain. The condition became worse when I was studying twelfth standard. 

After coming from the school, I used to complete homework given by the teacher and hear songs from transistor at the same time. (It is the only one entertainment source to us). This was the usual practice everyday evening. Even now I can remember that day. That day evening everything was going on well. My mother was in the kitchen preparing night food for us. (We usually take hot and fresh food at night) My father was out of the home. Brothers are playing outside.

I slowly felt breathing difficulty and gradual pain in my chest also. I called upon my mother. She did her as usual first-aid ‘rubbing’. But pain increased and was unable to tolerate. Then she realized the situation that something had been wrong. With scared face, she told my brother to call my father immediately who had gone outside.

Within few minutes, my father hurried to the home. My restlessness, because of pain and suffocation, alarmed my father to take me to the hospital. A local doctor at our place gave some medication. He advised my father to take me to the Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Madurai on the following day. 

The story continuous as told by his father; We (I, my son Muthuguru and his mother) went early morning on that day to the hospital. At the reception desk, they asked some information. After that we met the doctor A.R.Raghuram. He enquired the difficulties of my son. He thoroughly checked him and advised for surgery. We came out from the room. Each one looked each other, what’d do! I went inside the doctor’s room again to know the cost of surgery. He said that the cost of surgery might come around INR.85,000/-. 

I had only less than INR.500/- in my shirt pocket. With the little amount what could I do? I put my hand on the shoulder of my son and stared at his eyes. I determined to save the life of my son at any cost. I was in great dilemma how I would save my boy. I had thought previously, as the eldest son, after some years he would share the family responsibility then the economic condition would be raised. But the unexpected shock made me everything collapsed. All appeared blackish.
How could I collect such a big amount? Even if I loan from my relatives, I couldn’t get such a big amount. A poor like me could earn money to feed only to his family. How could I raise immediately such a huge amount? How would I make my boy survive? We sat uncomfortably at the outside of the doctor’s room. After few minutes the doctor called me again and asked the financial condition. I poured everything whatever I had in my mind. He listened keenly then he phoned somewhere. Subsequently, he consoled me by his words. Then he asked me to meet some people at a department. And he ascertained that the department would do some ‘favor’ to my son. 

Nothing was in my mind. I had to save my son’s life. Immediately, I and my son ran to the department to know about the ‘favor’. They welcomed us. They made me calm and decreased my anxiousness and frustration by their consoling words. They asked some questions. I truthfully gave them the expected details, because I was in such an intention to save my son. Then they asked me whether I knew “Save the Little Heart (SLHS)”. I did simply say I did not know. Then they explained what SLHS was; “the scheme is especially for the children from poor family like my son, who are in need of heart surgery”. Amazingly the total cost of the surgery INR.85,000/- would be contributed by the hospital and donors.

I was surprised to hear that the hospital would take care of the expenditure of 45,000/- that included the doctor’s fee, Anesthesia fee, hospital stay before, during and after surgery and balanced and hygienic food for my son and also for us and the remaining INR.40,000/- would be the contribution of donors for my son’s surgery. I puzzled how a hospital like this could do surgery at a free of cost? Even it was not a government hospital to do anything free. Then “what’re they doing?” I thought, “They are really doing good deeds to the poor people like me”. Anyway they were going to save the life of my son. They’re going to bring back the happiness again to our family. 

On 18th May 2004 my son was admitted. After that, on 20th May 2004, the surgery was done. He was given very good treatment. Within few days, I think, it was on 27th May 2004, he was discharged from the hospital. When we were in the hospital, they cared as their son. Medicine, food and care everything required to him were given at the proper time with love. When we came out of the hospital, I did unknowingly touch the shirt pocket, I felt some amount of less than INR.500/-. My eyes filled with tears. I raised my hands above the head to thank the hospital and the donors for their never returnable contribution of my son’s life. Now-a-days, I come early to home to spend time with my children. 

The story continues as told by Muthuguru Valvendhan: 
Now I am playing cricket with my friends and also doing everyday activities very well. Whenever I see the scar on my chest, I think of the MMHRC and the donors, I determine myself that, in future, “I’ll be a donor of Meenakshi Mission Hospital to help children”.