Vivek Oberoi saves kid's life!

Vivek Oberoi saves kid's life!
Thursday, March 03, 2005 15:22 IST
By Santa Banta News Network
Haji Ali spends most of his time nowadays playing with his siblings. The nine-year-old boy, born with a heart problem, is slowly discovering the joys of childhood after a surgery paid for by Vivek Oberoi proved successful.

The tsunami that killed thousands on India's coastline in December last year has given Ali a future he used to only dream of. The killer waves took away his home but brought him in touch with Oberoi, who was helping tsunami survivors rebuild their lives.

A successful surgery to close a hole in his heart means Ali can now finish his daily school hours without feeling over-exhausted like before. He can play with friends and his two siblings without running out of breath.

Ali was diagnosed with the heart complication early in childhood. Doctors had told his father Abdul Razzak that an operation would cost about Rs.100,000 ($2,300).

Razzak, a fisherman from Thevanapattinam village in Cuddalore district 350 km from here, tried to raise some money last year by selling clothes around. He hardly saved anything.

Then the tsunami struck Dec 26. Thevanapattinam, with 4,000 households, was one of the worst hit. "A week later, we heard a big actor from Mumbai was in the area, helping the survivors," recalls Razzak.

Hoping to get help for his ailing son, Razzak queued up with the villagers of Devanapattinam at a relief camp that Oberoi was visiting.

Razzak says Oberoi looked at Ali and promised help. Soon the child was moved to the Apollo hospital here.

On Jan 26, specialist Neville A.G. Solomon performed an open heart procedure to close the hole in Ali's heart. Oberoi footed the bill.

"A block was affecting the blood flow from the right heart chamber to the lungs (hampering supply of fresh oxygen to the blood)," Solomon, 36, tells.

"We closed the hole, allowing the blood to reach the lungs, get oxygen and move to the left chamber to be pumped to the rest of the body," he says.

About two weeks ago, Ali and his parents travelled from Thevanapattinam to Chennai to meet Solomon, and thank Oberoi who was visiting the city.

Ali also has a rheumatoid heart valve for which is taking medicines and injections. But he is slowly finding the zest for life.

Razzak says Ali is already desperate to return to school but has been asked to be patient and wait till June.

"He wants to grow up and be a doctor in a big hospital," says the father.

"Ali's was a very special case. It was very satisfying to see the child smile, laugh and talk freely," says Solomon, who has been inspired to set up a children's fund for poor heart patients like Ali.

Solomon knows it was as much medical science as luck that saved Ali. "If the tsunami had not happened, Oberoi would not have been in Cuddalore. And if he hadn't been there, Ali perhaps would never have come to Apollo," he says.
Singham Again Wins the Monday Test with estimated collection of 17-18 Crores on Day 4!

Audiences are rallying behind Singham Again, making it their top choice this week. Following an impressive weekend collection that set box office records, Singham Again shows

Tuesday, November 05, 2024
Audiences Celebrate Diwali with Singham Again as the Film Roars on Weekend!

Rohit Shetty's highly anticipated cop-drama Singham Again has made a thunderous impact at the box office. The film, led by Ajay Devgn, drew massive crowds and raked in impressive

Monday, November 04, 2024
Samantha Ruth Prabhu De-Stresses with Intense Workouts and Explores Rajasthan's Beauty!

Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently showcased her de-stressing ritual with some intense fitness training, proving once again that she's as strong as she is stunning. Taking to Instagram

Monday, November 04, 2024
Kriti Sanon and Rumoured Boyfriend Kabir Bahia Spotted at Mumbai Airport: Details Inside!

Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon, who has been basking in the positive reception of her maiden production Do Patti, was recently spotted at the Mumbai airport on Sunday alongside her

Monday, November 04, 2024
Poojan Chhabra on building a strong connection with co-star Bhuvan Arora on the sets of Amazon MX Player's Fisaddi!

Amazon MX Player, Amazon's free video streaming platform, recently released the bromance drama, Fisaddi. Set in Allahabad University, the series follows the story of two

Monday, November 04, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT