Kochi: As 21-year-old Manjima left Rajagiri Hospital following her heart surgery, she tearfully expressed her gratitude to Malayalam film superstar Mammootty, who had covered the entire cost of her operation. She said, “Happy birthday Mammookka… My heart owes you.”
Manjima, who was born with a heart defect, learnt on the day she was leaving the hospital after her surgery that it was Mammootty’s birthday on Saturday. Overwhelmed with emotion, she wished him a happy birthday, acknowledging that her life-saving surgery was made possible by his generosity.
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The young woman from Palakkad, a first-semester BBA student at Vagamon, had been suffering from a hole in her heart since birth. She had experienced severe shortness of breath and was initially examined at a private hospital in Thodupuzha. The doctors there discovered a significant heart defect and recommended urgent surgery. She was then referred to Rajagiri Hospital in Aluva for specialised care.
Tests at Rajagiri Hospital confirmed a hole in the wall separating the upper chambers of her heart, necessitating immediate surgical intervention. Manjima’s family, reliant on the income of her father Thomas, an auto driver, faced financial hardship, making the cost of surgery a major concern.
It was at this point that Thomas learned about Mammootty’s 'Hridyam' project, a collaboration between Care and Share International Foundation and Rajagiri Hospital. George Sebastian, director of Care and Share, brought Manjima’s case to Mammootty's attention after receiving information from John Brittas MP. Mammootty suggested including Manjima in the 'Hridyam' initiative, which provides free medical care.
The surgery, led by Dr. Shiv K. Nair, Head of Cardiac Surgery at Rajagiri Hospital, was performed by a team of specialists including Dr. Riju Rajasenan Nair, Dr. Mary Smitha Thomas, Dr. Deepin, and Dr. Akshay Narayan. The operation, which would have cost around five lakh rupees, was provided at no charge through the 'Hridyam' scheme.
Since its launch in May 2022, the 'Hridyam' project has facilitated around fifty free surgeries.
Published: 07 Sept 2024, 12:13 pm IST
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