BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Atlanta, GA, July 12, 2019: When 3-year old Aditya Tiwari’s parents from Bihar admitted him to a local hospital due to complaints of a bad cold, fever and breathing trouble, little did they know that these were mere symptoms of a much serious heart condition. The medical saga continued for over two years with the family traveling frequently to Delhi to visit various experts and hospitals, only to be disappointed due to either long waiting periods or unaffordable care options.
Thanks to Sai Sanjeevani hospitals, which partner with Heart to Heart (H2H) Foundation, little Aditya underwent life-saving surgery and had post-op care, all free of charge.
H2H Foundation partners with Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals to provide congenital heart surgeries free of cost to families of underprivileged backgrounds. The surgeries take place in three hospitals in Navi Mumbai, Raipur Chhattisgarh, and Palwal (Harayana District), with two more being constructed in West Bengal and Gujrat. Currently over 7000 surgeries have been completed by their partner hospitals.
Cricket Legend Sunil Gavaskar, Chairman of Board of Governors for H2H Foundation has pledged to support 34 child heart surgeries matching his 34 Centuries at Sanjeevani Hospital- Navi Mumbai, India.
“I am what I am, known because of the centuries that I scored and if I may make this little contribution where for every century that I have scored, I could help save a life, I would feel blessed. The whole point is that as in the game of cricket, the opening batsmen lay the foundation for the rest of the team to come forward and make a contribution. My request is for you to spread the message and to tell the world of the work that is being done here towards a healthier and better world,” appeals the Iconic Gavaskar.
In an effort to raise awareness, H2H Foundation presented a multi-city concert in USA by Sumeet Tappoo and his team of musicians. In Atlanta, the concert was held on June 2nd at Hilton Ballroom in Norcross. Rendering Bollywood hits and Bhajans with equal finesse, Tappoo highlighted the significance of the cause and the people responsible for spreading the awareness. Prominent leaders of the community at the event included Dr. Sunny Anand, Professor, Stanford University, Consul Shailesh Lakhtakia, CGI Atlanta, Ani Agnihotri, Chairman IACA, among others.
Malani and Bhindi Jewelers were the main sponsors of the event.
“Over 300,000 children born every year with congenital heart problems may not see their first birthday as they cannot afford the medical bill that can cost 10 to 15 thousand Dollars. H2H Foundation through Sai Sanjeevini Hospitals, which do not have any billing counters, provide free treatments and surgeries to these children without expecting anything in return,” said Dr. Anand, adding that no patient is turned away.
Consul Lakhtakia applauded the contributions of H2H foundation to society. The organizing team included Ram Rao, RJ Patel, Ravindra Addepalli, Kiran Patel, and Shivaram Betha.
“It takes a heart to save a heart,” said Dr. Shelly Gupta, member of Board of Directors, H2H Foundation, in her conversation with NRI Pulse. Dr. Gupta cited the complicated case of Abhinav Kumar, barely a year and half from Uttarkashi, who was breathless right from birth with worsening condition in the recent past. The child was not only operated for a rather rare condition, but also taken up for surgical correction as these children may sometimes succumb to pneumonia in the waiting period. “The association of Ventricular septal defect with Isolated PAPVC of pulmonary veins without an ASD is a very rare occurrence and very few reports are published in literature till date. If left alone untreated, this association puts the child at a higher risk of early development of irreversible pulmonary artery hypertension, and an early surgical correction makes a big difference to the quality of life of the child who otherwise invariably would succumb to the disease,” elaborated Dr. Gupta.
Heartwarming stories of 10-year-old Oluwanifemi Ajoke Solanke who traveled with her mom Fumilayo from Nigeria to India for treatment or Constable Gabbar Singh’s son, Krishna Babu, barely two, who received treatment having lost his mother at birth bear testimony to the earnest efforts of H2H Foundation. “To Save A Heart Costs $1200 USD” says Dr. Gupta.
For more info you can visit www.h2h.foundation or email them h2hfoundation.usa@gmail.com.
