A happy baby Rakina (in white cap) with Dr HS Bedi, Dr Jugesh Chattwal, other children with heart disease and the Cardiac Staff after the surgery in CMC, Ludhiana.
Ludhiana, June 17, 2013: Mohd Hanif and Noorbano of Srinagar are extremely happy parents today. Their lovely angelic child – Baby Rakina – aged 2 years was suffering from a major heart defect (large hole in the heart) which was damaging her heart and lungs. Rakina was not growing according to their age and would get recurrent infections. She would land up in the emergency room of the hospital in J & K time and again.
The parents were told that Rakina needed an early heart surgery. However Mohd Hanif – a labourer was unable to collect the money required. He was then were referred to Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – Head of Cardiac Surgery at the CMC & H Ludhiana.
On investigation it was realised that only a major open heart surgery could save Rakina as her heart was close to its terminal condition. Dr Bedi who has had advanced training in the treatment of such cases at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Australia said that if untreated the lungs of such children get damaged beyond repair. In co-ordination with the Director – Dr Abraham G Thomas and Dr Jugesh Chattwal Prof and Head Paediatrics – it was decided to perform the high risk case under the Gift of Life scheme funded by the CMC Alumni USA and the UMSF USA.
A major heart surgery was done wherein Rakina’s body was placed on a heart lung machine, the heart stopped and put on ice and the hole in the heart repaired. Dr Bedi said that there were some tense moments when the heart lung machine was stopped. However by Gods grace – Rakina’s heart recovered immediately. Dr Chattwal said that Rakina’s heart is now normal and she can now lead a normal healthy life. The other members of the team during the marathon surgery were Dr S Garg, Dr Melchi, Dr Allen, Dr Anish, Dr Aradhana, Dr Shipra and Dr Neethu . The delicate control of the heart lung machine was done by William and Jairus.
Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director of CMC said that the Institute is fully geared to take care of such children with heart defects. Dr Bedi told that it was only because of the strong backup of the CMC faculty and infrastructure that most of the heart defects could be safely treated in CMC.