The Joy of Surgeries --The Continuing Work to help Children with CHD - Pause and Restart

 

The  Little Heart Surgeries was going on well – Over 300 surgeries done since July 2017 and funding had been secured to do another 225 surgeries  when the Covid struck this project as well – Medical camps that identified children with the defect could not happen , more so surgeries could not performed due to the risk. It was very painful as there were children that needed the treatment to be normal post the surgery . Discussions continued with the medical team and the Rotary and slowly things started opening up , a solution was found . However the solution needed additional funding and this requirement was to adhere  to Covid norms in terms of testing the patient  and other requirements for the medical team for them to be safe – But the approval from Rotary International for the additional fund need came overnight . And so , the surgeries have commenced .. We have had eight surgeries post August  so far and they have been successful. 

This is really good news  and progress can be made . However some changes that we had to and some experiences that I had when interacting are worth sharing. Normally in pre Covid times  , post the  surgery to children , Rotarians from Madras South club will visit the kids at the hospital and spend time with the kids and their parents , give away goodies . This was a great touch point and really would make one closer to the project as they would see the little ones that went through the surgery and then making good recovery and behaving like very normal kids .. It was a visit that one would look forward to over a week end , every month at least.

 

But with Covid preventing visitors , visits could not be planned .  We started calling the Kids parents two days post the surgery . And how glad they were to get a call that was checking on the well being of the child.? ! During these tough times , everyone is going through so much stress and also with no one to talk to ( Number of attendants at hospital curtailed  )  The calling from our side will happen on day 3 which is when the kids moves to the normal ward from the ICU—

On one instance , the parent called back on Day 7 ( day of discharge ) and told me that they were going back with a healthy kid – I did not expect the call back ,   I had earlier called on day 3 and checked on the well being of the kid . It was so nice of the parent to call  back – He was ever thankful to Rotary and Dr Prashanth , the surgeon, The kid is five years and the family is from Ramanathapuram and the father a fisherman.

 

In the second case , my call on day 3, put me through some moments of anxiety .. The parent said the kid developed fever and other complications and was still in the ICU... I told the parent that the kid is in the best care and not to worry. I called daily.. The kid recovered slowly ( he was just one year old boy ) On day 7, the parent called and said the kid was ready to be discharged . His voice was full of energy and he said  “ Sir , I thought I lost him when he developed complications.. Neenga positive iruthinga ---   He was joyous.. it was probably the first time , the kid was active since his birth.  I could visualize a beaming father who through the last year must have gone through several anxious moments due to the heart defect with which the kid was born .

 

I still wish we could visit and spend time with the kids and their parents .. Hopefully things do change soon – But the good thing is that after a six month hiatus ,the surgeries are back – And  interacting through phone with the kids parents is brining different moments to relish !