Indian doctor gives lease of life to Pakistani child

[bonuchikla]

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Here is the reality on ground:

on the peak of India Pak War of words , this Couple from Pakistan went to India to het their son operated and now they recount their pleasant experience in India.

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Friday, July 03, 2009
By Aroosa Masroor

Karachi

Six months have passed since Syed Saadat Ali and his wife returned from India after a successful open-heart surgery of their son, Syed Raahim, who will soon be celebrating his first birthday. As the critical phase of Raahim’s recovery is over, the couple – who had earlier been avoiding the media – believe that they are in a better position to discuss their case now.

Ali and his wife, Nadia, travelled to India in December last year, a month after the Mumbai attack soured relations between India and Pakistan. However, that did not deter the couple from visiting the country, especially after they received a positive response from Dr Rajesh Sharma of Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi, who was willing to offer his services to them.

Raahim had been suffering from a rare congenital heart disorder that obstructed blood flow to the infant’s heart, making it difficult for him to breathe. Due to the lack of the required surgery facilities in Pakistan, the couple decided to go to India, but said that they were disappointed that this suggestion came from a friend, and not from local doctors who were handling Raahim’s case.

“Raahim suffered from shortness of breath since the day he was born and had the ‘Blue Baby’ syndrome in which his skin would turn bluish or purplish due to lack of oxygen, but even doctors at one of the most leading hospitals of the city could not understand what was wrong,” said Ali, during an interview with The News at his residence in Nazimabad.

According to doctors, about one out of every 1,000 live-born babies is born with a congenital heart defect in which the major blood vessels of the heart either do not function properly or are not formed during the early stages of fetal development. “In Raahim’s case, his vessels had not been formed,” informed Nadia.

“We were asked to take one test after the other along with an ECG, but none of the doctors here could understand what the complication was and were hesitant to operate. We also took his reports to the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), where doctors agreed to perform a surgery but failed to satisfy us when we asked about its success rate.”

Ali then sought a second opinion from a doctor in India, as suggested by his close friend and within a day received a response from a doctor at one of the leading cardiac hospitals in India. Despite the talk of war and blame game between the governments of Pakistan and India, they decided to fly and save Raahim before it was too late. Unlike a regular visitor, Saadat and Nadia Ali were soon issued a visa on medical grounds.

“Our governments may have their differences, but once we stepped into India and interacted with the common man, each one of them welcomed us with open arms,” recalled Nadia. In fact, not only did they open their doors for us, but also their pockets to save Raahim’s life, added the father. The cost of the total surgery amounted upto Rs0.65 million, most of which was borne by the hospital trust. “This financial exemption came as a surprise because we could not afford it. For a while, we had lost hope.”

During their month-long stay in the country and frequent visits to the hospital, Nadia said that she was most touched by the support and respect they got in their times of adversity. “From the staff to the common visitor at the hospital, everyone gave us special treatment because we were from Pakistan. This just tells you how political or religious differences never trickle down to the common man, no matter how hard the government or media in both the countries try. Like us, we want more families in Pakistan to benefit from the medical community across the border”, the couple said.
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It Indicates despite Govt's Propaganda , Common man on both side still feel affinity not the rivalry.

[Gabbar]

[afriend]

Amazing story man..!!! At the face of adversity we all realize we are just human beings, with pure emotions.

[Gin ka Pakistan]

Put's smile on your face with a thanks after reading it.

[TOPGUN]

Wonderful story!

[qsaark]

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It is good to know that the Indian Doctors did what they supposed to do and did it well.

Now coming to the complaints of the parents that the Doctors at AKUH were not able to give any guarantees. I have worked in AKUH, and in collaboration with another group at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), published a research paper in a journal of International repute (my first and only publication on the role of DHFR in MI patients, before I finally moved on to molecular virology). I have first hand experience of working with Pakistan's leading cardiologists and I know they are second to none. My understanding is that the child was taken to the AKUH where he was under treatment. Let me tell you that being one of the most expensive medical facilities does not mean one of the best. And AKUH is not one of the best hospital, neither its cardiology department is known for its excellence. However, NICVD is indeed one or probably the best institute for the cardiovascular diseases in the country. Many people (especially who could afford more expensive hospitals) don’t like to consult with the doctors working in the Government sector or Hospital. A general understanding is that Government hospitals are not good, and facility-wise they indeed are not. But I can assure you that you'll find best of the best doctors working in the Civil Hospital, NICVD, etc. Doctors working in these hospitals have to rely less on the diagnostic facilities (which either are not available or not affordable by the patients visiting) and more on their experience. The level of exposure a Doctor working in a government Hospital gets due to the variety of the patients from different socio economic backgrounds, the doctors from AKUH can only dream of. I can only wish if the parents had at least once consulted with the Doctors in NICVD, they could have saved their time money.