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“Nobody in our family has had heart disease. We didn't even know that it was possible for small babies to get it. Our little girl is only two years old, but she has gone through a lot already. Her little body has suffered so much that I cannot express it in words. As parents, we don’t have the funds to treat her further. We are starving and doing our best to save every paisa, but it’s not enough.”-Thangamal, mother.
Thangamal and Ravi’s baby was born via normal delivery, and looked fine at birth. Despite their poor finances, the couple was looking forward to raising their child in the best way possible, until they were faced with what would be the most difficult situation of their lives.
The baby underwent an emergency surgery…but her troubles were far from over
On the tenth day after delivery, the little one developed a severe cold and fever. She was immediately admitted to the nearest government hospital in Dharmapuri, and stayed in the ICU for seven days. Her parents thought that this would be it, but again in the third month, the baby developed a cold and rapid heartbeat, requiring another five-day stay in the ICU at a nearby general hospital.“Several medical tests conducted at the time revealed that our baby had a heart issue. Treatment continued in the government hospital and then last year, doctors advised that she should get an open heart surgery. But we didn’t have money to do it without financial help so we kept waiting.” - Thangamal
She is unable to breathe on her own and might not survive
Six months ago, when they attended the government medical camp and approached the doctors, they got the option to get the surgery done at a private hospital through the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Insurance Scheme. The baby underwent open heart surgery, but the battle is far from over. She requires prolonged ventilator and hospital stay due to ventricular dysfunction, which is the heart’s inability to pump blood to different parts of the body causing oxygen deficit.
“Doctors are saying that her condition is not stable right now. Her body is still recovering from surgery and her heart is still weak. I am worried about what might happen to her.”- Thangamal
‘My husband hasn’t been to work in weeks now… we have no income, no savings’
Thangamal’s husband, Ravi, who works as a carpenter, is currently unable to work because the couple is in Chennai where the child’s surgery took place. They have rented a room outside the hospital for Rs 500 per day, which leaves them with pretty much nothing for food.
“My husband never had regular work. Whenever he managed to find work as a carpenter, he earned Rs 900 per day. Although our baby has undergone surgery, she remains in critical condition and requires continued ICU care as she is still reliant on ventilator support. But we cannot even afford food at this time, how will we afford her treatment costs?” - Thangamal, tearfullyHelp Thangamal and her family, your support is a sign that they are not alone in this.
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