A Journey from blue to pink
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, January 15, 2004
http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_02/02Jan15/02_Cover_story/From_Blue_to_Pink/blue2_pink.htm
Dr SR Mohanty
The
author is Junior Consultant, Department ofCardio-thoracic Vascular
Surgery. Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences,
Bangalore
How
does it feel to be a proud mother after nine long months of
pregnancy? How does it feel when the newborn smiles back at you
spontaneously? But what if the child's lips turn blue? What if the
doctor tells you that your little baby has a complex heart disease
that will need corrective surgery at the earliest - at a price
over Rs 300,000 [6,380 US dollars] and with over 50 per cent risk
to life?
That's exactly what
happened to Mrs Mohan Das, a labourer by profession. This was the
scene she had to face, barely two days after the birth of the
child. Having lost hope, she decided to accept her fate. Then came
the news of a charitable institution at Bangalore, founded by
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba offering services in free of cost.
She made the journey to Bangalore.
Her 18-day-old baby
weighing just three kilos was diagnosed as having d-transposition
of Great Arteries, Intact Ventricular Septum, Patent Foramen Ovae,
Patent Ductus Arteriosus, Type II Coronary pattern and well
preserved left ventricular function. The baby was scheduled for
Arterial Switch Operation, considered as one of the most
complicated types in the practice of neonatal cardiac surgery.
Post operatively the
baby was nursed on Infant Warmer with mechanical ventilation and
inotropic support. Gradually she was weaned off ventilator support
and was extubated after 72 hours. The inotropes were slowly
tapered and the baby made an uneventful recovery. The parents were
impressed with the humaneness of the team involved in treating
their child. They had no words to express their gratitude. On the
way back home with the baby in their arm and with a smile on her
pink lips, believed that their little one had received a second
life by the grace of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
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