India
healthysoch
New Delhi, August 30, 2020 :
A 72-year-old male came to Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund to get financial assistance for his heart condition. He had heart failure, which required biventricular pacing device to help him relieve his symptoms and have a better quality of life. The private sector gave him an estimate of Rs. 7.50 lakhs. At AIIMS, the estimate was lowered to Rs. 2.25 lakhs for a reasonable device. He approached Prime Minister’s Fund and was sanctioned an amount of Rs. 50000/– but the due six months passed as he could not raise further funds. Because of the large sum of money required, most of the family members refused to help him. When he approached us, he had also sold his only buffalo for Rs 30000/–. When we first met him, he was an enthusiastic elderly person and said, “Mein jeena chahta hoon” (I want to live) and these words impressed me immensely. From Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund, we sanctioned an amount of Rs. 1 lakh towards his surgery and then talked to his family members and convinced them that when we are helping him, all of them should also help.
His brother-in-law called us next day and said that he has arranged the balance amount of Rs 90000/–. Ultimately, a total amount of Rs 2.25 lakh was collected and deposited with AIIMS and his rightful surgery was done.
The message is very clear – “where there is a will there is a way.” He showed us his will to live by selling his only buffalo and that paved the way for his successful surgery.
Author : Dr KK Aggarwal , President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA