Pune: Families of patients often neglect the huge expenses post surgery as the cost incurred in major surgeries itself is financially challenging. Same was the case of Manda Chandanshive from Jalgaon, whose 13-year-old daughter had a heart transplant. However, two years down the surgery, a city-based doctor, Dr Manoj Durairaj, still funds all the post operative expense of the young girl. 

His organisation, Marian Cardiac Centre And Research Foundation has helped more than 350 patients over the years to overcome financial burden and fight heart diseases.

Sharing her story, Chandanshive said that she found out that her daughter Prerana needed a heart transplant only eight months after she lost her husband. “I was devastated as the young girl had to undergo a major surgery. Moreover, I was short on funds,”  she said.

 “The surgery happened on April 2, 2017. I met the doctor exactly eight days before. Since I met him, he has been exceptionally helpful. Our struggles did not end after the surgery. The post-operative care were huge expenses which the doctor helps in now,” she said.

Talking about his work, Dr Durairaj who is a cardiothoracic surgeon said that there are a lot of patients who need surgery but due to financial issues, they face a lot of problems. “We help patients get donations for the surgeries through which they don’t have to wait for a long time. We mostly get paediatric patients with congenital heart defects who have a hole in the heart and similar conditions where the patient cannot wait,” he said.

“There are patients who come from all parts of the State. Many foreign patients also visit as India has better doctors. We are witnessing a rise in heart transplant. The number of patients were always high, but now there are more donors because of rising awareness,” he added.