Having fought bravely through their heart conditions, 4-year-old Janvika Nalini Sharma and 12-year-old Mereani Roro Nasilasila have now received life-saving surgeries at the Sai Prema Foundation’s Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital in Suva.
Starting in April 2022, the program has transformed countless lives,a total of 351 and will resume in February next year, continuing its mission to save more children.
Speaking to fijivillage News, founding Trustee and Chairman Mahendra Tappoo says the heart screening process is essential in detecting heart disease early in children, using advanced technology that can diagnose the condition within 20 minutes to half an hour.
He says once diagnosed, the surgeries performed at the hospital provide children with a new chance at life, which he refers to as a "gift of life."
Tappoo says that no single person, family or organization can manage this effort alone.
He says it requires the combined support of the community, the government, the corporate sector and the Fijian diaspora.
He calls for collective involvement to ensure that more children are saved.
Marica Nasilasila from Makoi shared her daughter Mereani’s journey after she was diagnosed with a heart condition in June last year.
She says her daughter began feeling unwell, and they initially thought it was the flu. Nasilasila says when she began feeling fatigued during netball training, the family became concerned.
She says after asking for further tests, doctors discovered that two of Mereani’s heart valves were severely damaged and she had to undergo valve replacement surgery at the Sanjeevni Hospital.
She says many children may appear healthy on the outside, but parents should not underestimate what their child might be going through internally.
Joti Prasad from Korovuto, Nadi recalls when Janvika was born, she was immediately placed on oxygen due to being sick and it was later discovered that Janvika had two holes in her heart, and she was also diagnosed with pneumonia.
She says after being referred to Sai Prema Foundation, Janvika’s heart was screened by visiting doctors.
She says in September, following this, Janvika successfully underwent heart surgery without complications.
She shares her gratitude to the Sai Prema Foundation for their life-saving work and free surgery, advising parents not to ignore their children's health symptoms and to seek proper diagnosis and treatment.
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