Share
“Our little girl has never enjoyed a single moment of normalcy in her life, ever since she was born. But we tried to bring her up to be like other children her age, though she’s very different from them. With her health issues being detected at birth, we’ve had to place many restrictions on her as she grew up and watch her every move because there’s no telling what could happen at any given time. This is never what I wanted for her, but it is what we have to do to keep her alive.” - Vasanthi, mother, tearfully
She was born with not one, but two severe congenital conditions
Vasanthi and Ramesh’s 5-year-old daughter was born with a weak heart, and was diagnosed with tetralogy of fallot, a congenital heart defect causing oxygen-poor blood to flow out of the organ and to the rest of the body. She is also grappling with rectovaginal fistula, an abnormal connection (fistula) between the rectum and the vagina, that leads to bowel contents leaking through the fistula, allowing gas and stool to pass through the vagina.“The news was like one gut punch after another. We never knew something like this could happen to babies, and were stunned as the doctors told us that while these defects are rare, they tend to occur in babies that have not fully developed in the womb. A heart issue is one thing, but my daughter couldn’t even pass stools properly! From the doctor’s explanation I knew just how serious it was, and I was immediately begging them to save my child.” - Ramesh, father
She would easily get tired and experience breathlessness
When they first sought help for their baby, Vasanthi and Ramesh were told to wait it out until she turned 5 years old to get her operated. In that time, their child was dependent on medicines to manage her condition. However, as she grew, her symptoms began to show and worsen. The little girl would feel exhausted doing the smallest tasks and start experiencing breathing difficulties.“That’s why we had to stop her schooling. We sent her to preschool for a while, but I had to accompany her and sit there throughout the day, watching over her. But even then, she couldn’t play without feeling extremely breathless and tired within a few minutes.She would often ask us “Amma, Appa, what is happening to me?” We’d just give her a tablet and her breathing would soon come under control. These tablets are the only reason she’s still alive now.” - Vasanthi
She underwent surgery, but she can only recover with prolonged ICU care
On 6 February, the child was able to undergo open-heart surgery successfully ahead of her 5th birthday, later this month. She has been bed-ridden since then, and only recently managed to open her eyes. But her troubles haven’t ended yet. She’s still in a very fragile state and needs continued ICU treatment in order to make a full recovery. While her other congenital condition still needs to be treated, it can’t happen unless her heart function is stable.
A daily wager, this father has no way to fund his daughter’s treatment.
In order to make it possible for his daughter to undergo heart surgery, Ramesh resorted to borrowing from his employer and peers and is now buried in debt. Most of the income that he earned from his agricultural labour jobs has gone into his daughter’s treatment so far, while the remaining has gone into paying back the loans he’d borrowed. Now, with his daughter hospitalised, he hasn't been able to go to work at all.“How can I afford the rest of her treatment in this state, when I don’t even know if we will be able to eat our next meal? It has been emotionally and physically exhausting, running around, begging for help and money just so my daughter’s life could be saved. When her heart surgery was a success, I felt immense relief. But all the progress she’s made will go in vain if I can’t keep her treatment going… Where is a poor man like me supposed to get that INR 8 lakhs from?” - Ramesh
Vasanthi and Ramesh were blessed with their daughter nearly 12 years after marriage. She is their only child and they can’t imagine losing her like this. Your help can guarantee their child’s survival and future. Click here to donate.
Identity of the child is protected in adherence to government guidelines.
