Update from Hyderabad, India
June 19, 2009
Dear Friends of Children's HeartLink,
Greetings from Hyderabad, India. Children’s HeartLink is here at Innova Children’s Heart Hospital, our newest partner site, with a team of medical volunteers from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University. A busy week is coming to an end. Several children received surgical or interventional treatment this week. Our main objective here is to help improve the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease in children by focusing on the poorest families, and by teaching and educating medical professionals.
The photo attached is of one-year-old Anvith. He was diagnosed with a complex congenital heart defect only two days after he was born. Anvith’s family has relatives in Hyderabad and they immediately turned to Dr. Murthy at Innova. Anvith had his first operation when he was four months old. Seven months later, his family took him in for another check up and it soon became clear he needed a second operation. Anvith was operated on by Mohan Reddy, M.D., pediatric cardiac surgeon from Stanford University, last Sunday and is already out of the intensive care unit and with his parents in recovery.
The father’s employer is providing insurance for his family, but unfortunately, it will not cover Anvith’s condition. Congenital heart disease is considered to be a pre-existing condition, therefore, is not covered by insurance. His family would have had to bear the entire cost of his care and the cost of traveling to Hyderabad.
When Anvith was born, his mother thought she was the only mother in this situation. When they came to Innova, she found a community of other parents with children with congenital heart defects. “It is good to know that there is such a great hospital for children to come to be treated. Within three days of his operation, my baby is with me and he is much better. I want him to become a cardiac doctor to be able to help other kids in the same situation,” Anvith’s mother said.
In addition to the patient care, yesterday we started a two-day continuing education seminar geared toward pediatricians, primary care physicians and nurses from Innova and the community to bring awareness to the issue of congenital heart disease. The goal of this medical mission, and our relationship with Innova Children’s Heart Hospital, is to build a sustainable program and leave the doctors and nurses of Hyderabad with skills they can put to use after our team leaves. Your support makes all of this possible. Thank you!
Warmest regards,
Estelle Brouwer, Vice President, Director of International Programs
Bistra Zheleva, International Programs Manager
Mary Pawlenty, Director of Medical Diplomacy
John Cushing, Jr., International Programs Advisor
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