An urban solution in a rural setting

Dr Cherian says, “I came to know that this girl was accidentally ‘caught’ by the camp officials of the National Institute for Women and Child Development under Dr Vikas Desai, when they visited a tribal village near Gujarat. Her father said that she was very playful but felt that she needed a medical examination as her skin was blotchy with multiple rashes and she was very weak.” 

Upon checking the child, Savitha Ben, they discovered that she was suffering from a major leak of her mitral valve. If not corrected immediately she would die, but a surgery would help her live a healthy life. The team tried to explain this to the father, but he could not understand. The innocent child’s eyes grew fearful on learning that something was wrong with her heart. 

A great soul (truly a Godsend) Mr Raj Jariwala, Trustee of Hardik Jariwala Foundation, understood the complexity of the situation and explained to the father and child in terms that the hill tribal folk could understand. He also motivated both saying that he would accompany them to Parumala, a small village in Kerala, where the entire cost of treatment would be borne by him. 

Another helping hand reached out from Abu Dhabi. Mrs Susheela George, head of Maryland International School, Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Zayed Heart Foundation, took charge of the entire medicines’ expenses, as the medicine costs were very spiraling out of control.

Dr Cherian realized an earlier Rheumatic Fever had led to this heart ailment due to lack of proper treatment and food. Typical of tribes, she developed skin problems like Scabies and Vitamin A deficiency, apart from the leaky mitral valve. Ideally, the valve had to be replaced but considering the child’s age this option was not feasible. This is because once it is replaced, blood thinner factor would have to be used which could become a problem at puberty. Dr Cherian decided to avoid even the slightest risk. His aim was REPAIR instead of REPLACING the valve.

Dr Cherian was keen that this surgery be performed by the world renowned Professor Afksendiyos Kalangos of Geneva who was also the inventor of the Bioabsorbable Ring which was to be used for the surgery. He was a good friend of Dr Cherian whose son Dr Sanjay Cherian had also worked under him. Dr Kalangos not only agreed to perform the surgery at Parumala during his visit to India, he also donated the ring. Savitha did very well after the surgery and returned to her village in good health. 

From a tribal village in Gujarat, this child travelled across the country to yet another village, wishing to cure her heart ailment. Hands and hearts reached across the globe to grant the wish of this simple tribal girl. This proves that God’s plan is always in place and He will work His mysterious ways to see it through.