SAVAIRA Naitila is forever grateful to Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Hospital for giving her nine-month-old baby boy the “gift of life”.
Eroni Rokotabala from Nakauwaru, Noco in Rewa was one of five children discharged last week after undergoing lifesaving surgery last month.
Ms Naitila, of Bagata Village in Cakaudrove on Vanua Levu said she was devastated to find out that her baby boy had a medical issue with his heart.
“I gave birth in Savusavu and was transferred to the Labasa Hospital for an echo test, and it was detected,” she said.
“We were then admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and four days later, he was brought back to me. We were discharged and returned to the village.”
Ms Naitila said she soon noticed changes in her son’s health, which continued to make her restless.
“After almost three months, I noticed his breathing was abnormally fast. I continued to care for him at home, but then we had to go to the hospital again. We returned home and the next day, we were back at the hospital in Savusavu and were rushed to the Labasa Hospital.
“Then we were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. My mind was restless and I was not at peace. My son didn’t want to eat. He would throw up when we fed him, and I could only breastfeed him. This is the seventh time we’ve been admitted.”
Fortunately, she was contacted by Sai Prema during her son’s last admission at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva.
“We were contacted and told to come to the Sai Prema Hospital, and the doctor explained that my son would undergo surgery. On Friday morning, my son was the first to be operated on.
“Since coming out of surgery, we have had to keep feeding him because his appetite has improved, and he has had multiple servings of food. When we were at Savusavu, his weight was 5.2kg, but today he weighs 6.5kg.”
Ms Naitila said she’s grateful not only to the hospital and the medical team for giving a second chance to her son but also to the other children who also had free-of-charge lifesaving surgery.
“I’m grateful for the new lease of life my son has today. I never dreamed it would turn out this way, and I can see that he is much better, and I’m thankful to God for bringing us here.
“After the surgery, I can see a big change in my son, and I’m grateful to the doctors for their help.”
