By A Pakistani teenager, Ayesha Rashid, embarked on a journey from Karachi to Chennai, India, seeking a heart transplant, as reported by The News on Saturday. Aged 19, Ayesha was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at the tender age of 14, a condition characterized by an enlarged left ventricle.
Initially, a team led by Dr. KR Balakrishnan implanted a Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) in Ayesha’s heart, but it malfunctioned, leading to an infection. Undeterred, the team orchestrated a successful heart transplant using the heart of a 69-year-old brain-dead Indian patient from Delhi, transported to Chennai.
This heartwarming narrative underscores the potential for medical care to transcend borders, offering renewed hope and vitality to individuals. However, it also sheds light on the formidable obstacles faced by heart transplant facilities within Pakistan.
Speaking to ANI, Dr. Balakrishnan emphasized the challenges, stating, “Managing patients with artificial heart pumps is not easy in that country (Pakistan) because the necessary equipment for monitoring is not readily available, and they lacked financial resources.” Despite these hurdles, Ayesha’s determination prevailed, as she secured a visa and embarked on the journey with limited funds.
Dr. Balakrishnan further elaborated, “We had to take care of all the expenses… Eventually, we obtained a heart donor from Delhi, which no one wanted, and she underwent a heart transplant a couple of months ago.” He noted the significant adjustment required for Ayesha due to the substantial size difference between her and the older donor’s heart, necessitating her chest to remain open for nearly ten days.
With Ayesha now fully recovered and poised to return home, Dr. Balakrishnan emphasized the need for lifelong immunosuppressive treatment to ensure her continued well-being
