Pt. Waliya Khan
6 Years Old Girl
Meet Waliya, a spirited little girl born via C-section in a small village called Sansapur in Saharanpur. From the moment she entered the world, her parents were filled with joy and hope.
However, their hearts sank when, at just 22 days old, Waliya began to show signs of distress, including bluish discoloration of her lips and fingers. After a thorough evaluation, she was diagnosed with congenital heart disease.
Waliya's family was determined to secure the best care for their daughter. They regularly followed up at AIIMS, but the long waiting list made it nearly impossible to get the treatment she urgently needed. Finally, they received an admission date during the COVID-19 lockdown, but the family faced a heartbreaking challenge: they could not arrange the funds required for the surgery.
Waliya’s parents sought help from various hospitals, but the situation remained grim. Just when hope seemed to fade, they learned about the Child Heart Foundation (CHF) through the UPRBSK team. Armed with their previous medical papers, they approached CHF, where Dr. Kohli conducted a new echo screening. The diagnosis was reaffirmed: Waliya had Tetralogy of Fallot, and urgent TOF repair surgery was advised.
Recognizing their financial constraints, the CHF team registered Waliya under the Hridaan Program for financial assistance. Her father, a farmer supporting four dependents, was filled with anxiety, fearing that delays like those they experienced in government hospitals would hinder his daughter’s treatment.
On August 5, 2024, Waliya was finally admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Sarita Vihar for her much-needed surgery. The procedure was a success, and she was discharged on August 10, 2024.
Since then, Waliya has made remarkable progress. Her family has returned for follow-up visits post-surgery, and each time, they see her smiling brightly—a sight that fills their hearts with joy. Her father, once burdened with worry, now beams with happiness, grateful that his daughter is thriving and can grow up like other children.