An eight-month-old girl may now live after the Andhra Pradesh government stepped in to fund an expensive operation that her parents cannot afford. The girl suffers from a chronic congenital liver disorder and requires a liver transplant to save her life.
In a tragic build up, the girls parents had already spent Rs 5 lakhs on her treatment and had even approached the Thamballapalle civil court for mercy killing.
But the junior judge Vasudev denied the couple’s plea citing the reason that he wasn’t authorized to make the crucial decision and instead asked them to approach either the Chittoor district court or the high court.
The father Ramanappa told the local media that the liver transplant costs Rs 30 lakhs. “Besides, doctors said both the donor and girl have to take medicines worth Rs 30,000 per month regularly. We went from pillar to post to mobilize money, but could not,” he added.
Thamballapalle’s legislator G Shankar Yadav, who learnt about the couple’s plight through local TV channels, came forward and assured help.
“I will bring it to the notice of the chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and see that the government will bear the expenses for Sai’s treatment,” he said.
In a heart warming gesture, the Andhra government has now agreed to fund Rs 20 lakhs for the treatment. Global Hospitals Group too has come forward to conduct the operation.
The chairman of Global Hospitals Group Dr K Ravindranath told the Times of India, “We at Global Hospitals would like to come forward and do the required liver transplant for baby Sai at Global Hospitals, Chennai, without putting any financial burden on the family.”
Reportedly, members of the family have come forward for a live liver donation, where a portion of the donor’s liver would be cut and transplanted.
