Ludhiana, March 9
Who said Good Samaritans do not exist ? An answer to this common statement are unknown philanthropists who paid a couple of lakhs for the treatment of two women and a man belonging to very poor families and who would have died without the help of such people.
The philanthropists in a rare example of self-less service gave the money only to save precious lives. The CMC Hospital was also moved by the patient’s plight and it decided to do away with the remaining cost of Rs 1 lakh as a special case. Generally the cost of valve transplant is Rs 2 lakh.
According to Dr Mohan Verghese, Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon, the philanthropists’ initiative helped in saving the life of Kusum (29), who was in critical condition following the failure of two valves in the heart. The woman had four children by the time she reached her twenties. She suffered from acute breathlessness and was brought by her husband from Ayodhya to the CMC for a check up. Dr Verghese suggested an immediate operation. But the jobless husband had no money. Mr S.S. Maini, chairman of the advisory board to the directors, managed to appeal to the people and arranged the money.
Similarly, Ved Parkash and Veena have been operated upon for leaking mitral valves and have the generosity of the people.
Dr Verghese urges the people to help the poor patients survive by donating money. He says, “The cases of mitral failures are on the rise. A simple sore throat, if neglected, can trigger the breeding of streptococcus bacteria that effects the valves of the heart. Simple rheumatic fever in the childhood can damage the valves too. The people living in poor dwellings under insanitary conditions are more prone to valve failure. The symptoms related to valve failure are extreme breathlessness, swelling of the legs, pain in the abdomen and a great deal of palpitation.
