A seven-month-old baby and a 10-month-old infant were among 13 children who were given the gift of life after undergoing life-saving heart surgeries this week.
The life saving operations were carried out during the 25th surgical mission at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital in Nasese, Suva, by a specialist team from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
UK-based charitable foundation Healing Little Hearts partnered with the hospital for the mission.
The visiting team was led by Dr Prem Venugopal, a cardiothoracic surgeon from the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Hospital director Dr Krupali Tappoo said the mission was also supported by the Ministry of Health, including CWM Hospital and Labasa Hospital, as well as Aspen Lautoka Hospital.
She said all 13 patients are from Fiji.
The mother of seven-month-old Yuvaani Chand from Pacific Harbour expressed heartfelt gratitude to the hospital for saving her child and is urging other parents to seek medical help without fear.
“A lot of parents are afraid what will happen to their child,” she said.
“I am encouraging them to just get their children to Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital and have them checked and treated.
“I am thankful to the doctors, nurses and the staff here for taking care of us so well.
“I have been here in the hospital for past three days and in just three days, my little daughter is healed.”
She said the hospital environment made her feel at home.
“The staff were always nice, and they tried to keep us happy throughout the stay.
“We are grateful and blessed to have this children’s hospital which has no billing counter and provides treatment and care in the hospital absolutely free of charge.”
