Pt. AYUSHI
4 year old girl
Meet Ayushi, a bright-eyed 4-year-old girl from a small village in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Born through a normal delivery, her early life was marked by a significant challenge when she battled pneumonia at just 10 days old, bravely enduring a week-long hospitalization. Despite this rocky start, Ayushi seemed to thrive, bringing joy to her family—until nine months ago when troubling symptoms emerged. Rapid breathing, weight loss, weakness, and a faint bluish tinge on her delicate skin sent her father into a panic.
Concerned for his daughter’s health, Ayushi's father rushed her to the district hospital in Rampur, where doctors suspected a congenital heart defect (CHD). They were urged to act quickly, which led them to seek an echocardiogram at a government hospital in Noida. Unfortunately, bureaucratic delays and overwhelming costs at Satya Sai Hospital in Palwal left the family feeling hopeless and lost, as they struggled to navigate a complex medical system without sufficient resources.
Just when despair threatened to overwhelm them, hope arrived in an unexpected form: the UPRBSK team, on a community visit, introduced them to the Child Heart Foundation (CHF). On May 17, 2024, Ayushi underwent a free echocardiogram screening, revealing a complex condition: dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) and a ventricular septal defect (VSD).
Following the diagnosis, more consultations took place, and a treatment plan was developed. The recommended procedure was the bidirectional Glenn, estimated at approximately 3.75 lakhs. For Ayushi's father, a labourer earning 8,000 to 10,000 rupees per month, the financial burden was immense as he struggled to support his family of seven.
On July 3, 2024, with tears in his eyes, Ayushi’s father returned to CHF, expressing his deepest wish: to see Ayushi healthy and happy like other children her age. The team at CHF rallied around the family, providing the support they so desperately needed.
On July 17, 2024, Ayushi was admitted for the bidirectional Glenn procedure, a significant step toward reclaiming her health. She was discharged on July 22, 2024, and her journey toward recovery began.