Bravehearts of the Foundation: Baby of Selva Jothi
December 6, 2017 | Contributed by Shahadevan
We had no time to think, no time to worry about what to name our premature, new-born son, so he goes by the name Baby of Selva Jothi. He was born on 27 July 2017 in Madurai. My wife, Selva had a natural, but premature delivery at around 29 weeks of gestation. He was born at a local hospital, with a low birth weight and breathing problems. We were at a loss, completely confused about what to do. An Echo test at the hospital was conducted which showed a heart disorder – Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) which needed surgery. My name is Shahadevan, I work in a supermarket and earn Rs 8000 per month. How was I supposed to put together the money needed to make sure my son lives?
The owner of the local hospital gave us guidance – he requested us to go to Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi. We needed an ambulance to go, how were we to take our little baby who had come early, and was battling his life? Thankfully, an ambulance was organised, and the local hospital took care of the costs, this was the beginning of the good will we were seeing from other people. Each person helping us to ensure our baby survives.
As we got to the hospital, we met Dr Krishna Kumar, to whom we are forever grateful. He told us that our baby needs to be operated on, but only after he has been stabilised. The biggest challenge the doctor explained to us was that our son was born prematurely, he was put on a ventilator in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).
After a duration of time, he was finally operated on – weighing 1.5kg during surgery. The surgery went well and he has been in the hospital for two months. We are finally being discharged (15th November 2017) and my wife and I will never forget what the team at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Genesis Foundation (GF) have done for us. GF financially supported my son’s surgery, something I was unable to do.
Without their support, we would not be able to feel the joy of our first-born son. I dream of a bright future for my child and I will do everything in my power to make sure he is a good, happy citizen.
On 16th November, Selva and Shahadevan’s prayers were answered as they took their baby home.
