Pakistani Teenager Gets Heart Transplant in Chennai: Read The Story Of Life-Saving Surgery By Indian Doctors

Doctors in Chennai have successfully performed a heart transplant on a teenager from Pakistan. Ayesha Rashid, a 19-year-old from Karachi, underwent a successful heart transplant in Tamil Nadu's capital.

Her medical journey began in 2019 after a cardiac arrest in Karachi due to a pre-existing heart condition. Seeking specialized treatment, she traveled to Chennai for evaluation. Despite initial efforts, her health issues persisted, leading to her return to Chennai in June 2023, as reported by ANI.

Facing financial strain alongside her health struggles, Ayesha found hope through the support of Dr. KR Balakrishnan, Chief of Heart Transplant at MGM Healthcare, and the Chennai-based healthcare trust, Aishwaryam. On January 31, 2024, a heart was airlifted from Delhi to Chennai, paving the way for Ayesha's lifesaving transplant surgery.

Dr KR Balakrishnan, Chairman of the Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, came to Ayesha's help through his collaboration with the Chennai-based healthcare trust, Aishwaryam, a ray of hope emerged for Ayesha.

The report adds that a heart airlifted from Delhi to Chennai setting the stage for Ayesha's life-saving transplant surgery on January 31, 2024.

"This child first came to us in 2019, soon after she came her heart stopped. We had to do CPR and put an artificial heart pump. With that she recovered and went back to Pakistan, then she became sick again, her heart failure worsened and she required repeated hospitalization and in that country (Pakistan), it's not easy, because the equipment required is not there and they had no money," the news agency quoted Dr KR Balakrishnan as saying.

The doctor noted that the patient was solely supported by her single mother and was facing financial difficulties. In response, he, along with the Aishwaryam trust and several other heart patients, stepped up to assist the 19-year-old.

Dr Suresh Rao, Co-director at the Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, said, "We are the largest centre doing heart transplant. We are doing almost 100 per year. One of the biggest number in the world I would say. And if there are no Indians then, it will be allotted to a foreigner. In this situation, this girl was waiting for almost ten months. Luckily, she got the heart,"

"She is from Pakistan and they did not have any resources. When they contacted, Dr Bala was generous enough to ask them to come here, because they did not have any money. He is the one who actually raised the money. Aishwarya trust has funded her transplant. At the same time, money allotted was not enough so we asked some of our patients. They were generous enough to donate money. She is fine, doing well. Her case was a severe one, not many such cases undergo a heart transplant," he added.

Ayesha Rashid Reacts

On the other hand, Ayesha Rashid has expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Indian government and doctors. "I'm very happy that I got transplant, I thank the Indian government. I'll definitely come back to India one day again. I thank the doctors also for the treatment," said Ayesha Rashid.

Sanober, Ayesha's mother, shared her emotional journey, recalling the obstacles they encountered and the support provided by Dr Balakrishnan and the medical team in Chennai.

"I am very happy for the transplant for my daughter. The girl was 12 years old that time she got a cardiac arrest and then underwent cardio empathy. Later on, the doctors informed that heart transplant was only solution to keep her alive. Then we came to know that there is no transplant facilities in Pakistan, so we approached Dr KR Balakrishnan for saving my daughter's life.

I was financially unstable, but doctors gave confidence and they asked me to make arrangements for travelling to India. I came to India without money, Dr. Balakrishnan only helped me in all the ways. I'm very happy for the transplant, I'm also happy that an Indian Heart is beating inside a Pakistan girl. I thought it is never possible but it has happened," Sanober added.