On February 27, Jazir Babu sent a usual WhatsApp message to Mammootty, as he often did. But this time, it was not about cinema. Jazir expected the usual silence in return. Instead, within an hour, he received a phone call. By the end of that call, a three-and-a-half-year-old girl, clutching a bouquet of flowers and a heartfelt card signed lovingly by Mammootty, beamed with joy. She now has a new heart — one that beats strong and steady.

It was Nidha Fathima, a native of Tirurkkad in Malappuram, who received the gift of life thanks to Jazir Babu, a member of the Perinthalmanna Mammootty Fans Association. Nidha, born with a congenital heart defect, underwent a life-saving surgery at Rajagiri Hospital, Aluva, entirely free of charge, following Mammootty’s intervention.

Jazir has been sending messages to Mammootty for the past 10 years, always sharing his thoughts after watching each new release, never expecting a reply. However, the message he sent on February 27 was different — it carried the pain of a family. Within an hour of reading it, Mammootty instructed the officials of his charitable organisation, Care & Share International, to contact Jazir directly.

Soon, arrangements were made for Nidha’s surgery at Rajagiri Hospital. On April 7, a team led by paediatric cardiac surgeon Dr Mustafa Janeel performed the critical procedure. After three weeks of hospital care, Nidha and her family returned home, carrying with them the gift Mammootty had sent — a bouquet and a message filled with love.

In her three-and-a-half years of life, Nidha Fathima had already undergone two major heart surgeries. Typically, the human heart has two ventricles, but Nidha was born with only one — the left ventricle. She had her first surgery at just three months old. Doctors advised a second surgery before she turned four.

Her father, Ali, a driver by profession, could not afford the expensive treatment. Having undergone an angioplasty himself months earlier, the family was already burdened. It was through a mutual friend, Kunjappu, that Jazir learned of Nidha’s condition — and brought Mammootty into their lives as a messenger of hope.

Dr K K Pradeep, head of Cardiology, Dr S Venkateswaran, paediatric cardiologist and Dr Soumya Mary Thomas, head of the Paediatric ICU at Rajagiri Hospital, were all part of Nidha’s care team. Dr S Venkateswaran confirmed that Nidha’s oxygen levels had normalised and the bluish tinge caused by her condition had completely disappeared. Dr Mustafa Janeel noted that timely surgery had greatly improved her future prospects.

The surgery, which would have cost nearly Rs 7 lakh, was carried out free of charge under the ‘Vatsalyam’ (Compassion) project of Care & Share International. The project aims to provide free surgeries for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In the initial phase, the foundation partnered with Rajagiri Hospital to make this dream a reality, said K Muraleedharan, chairman of Care & Share International Foundation.

Just as Nidha prepared to return home with her laughter and innocence restored, an unexpected gift arrived — a bouquet and a heartfelt card personally sent by Mammootty. Care & Share officials and Jazir Babu handed it over to the family. As Ali, a devoted Mammootty fan, left with his daughter in his arms, he carried with him one remaining wish: to meet Mammootty in person one day and capture that moment forever with a photograph.