Heart Matters: “Stop terrorism. Love others. Learn from India”

Kulsuma, a Bangladeshi, was oblivious to all this however as she was fighting a heart problem on her sixteenth birthday. 

Dr. Cherian had performed an open-heart surgery on her when Kulsuma was just a year old. She had enjoyed a normal life since then. At 16, her health problem returned with vomiting and breathlessness. Her parents took her back to Chennai. 

Tests revealed that she needed another surgery and a valve replacement. Though worried, being in the safe hands of the Frontier Lifeline team gave them peace. The surgery date was fixed. The father returned to Bangladesh to arrange funds while Kulsuma and her mother remained in Chennai. 

However, even after three days, the money was not transferred and the father could not be contacted! Frontier Lifeline contacted the Bangladesh bank. They learnt that due to terrorist activity all foreign transactions were frozen in Bangladesh. 

After two more days the worried mother contacted Kulsuma’s brother in Bangladesh. He was shocked to learn of his father’s disappearance and was desperately trying to trace him when he received a call from his father. Trying to carry cash to India, he had been arrested on suspicion of being a terrorist and his mobile had been seized. He somehow managed to get another mobile to contact his son. On hearing this news, Kulsuma and her mother broke down at the hospital reception. 

It was here that Dr. Cherian found them. On learning about their dire predicament, he took charge.

Dr. Cherian takes charge: Once Dr Cherian got personally involved, the women knew everything would be alright. Dr. Cherian was highly respected in Dhaka as he had performed Dhaka’s first open heart surgery. He had inaugurated the National Institute of Cardio-Vascular Disease and the Open Heart Surgery Department there. He had also been honored by the Health Minister of Bangladesh for his great service. 

Dr. Cherian’s secretary Ms. Cheryl contacted the medical community and the Health Ministry of Bangladesh. She sent the relevant documents authenticating the father’s claim. Kulsuma’s father was immediately released and his cash was returned. Kulsuma had a successful surgery the next day. 

While returning to Bangladesh a week later she said, “I am eternally grateful to the entire hospital team, especially Dr. Cherian. On the operation table, when I saw Dr. Cherian with his mask, my sick heart grew peaceful. I knew I was going to be well. I felt it was a divine connection be tween us. Today, I am going home to a new life with a new valve. I will spread the message of love and acceptance I learnt here.”