Theja

When their daughter was born, their first, it was a moment of joy for Elango and his wife. But Theja Sri, who is now six months old, fell sick and was losing weight. Doctors found that she had a congenital heart condition. There was an abnormal opening between major blood vessels leading from the heart. If left untreated, this condition can potentially cause heart failure at a later age. Elango is a daily wage worker, earning around INR 3000 a month. Many days, he and his wife went without work. Given their economic circumstances, the family, coming from a remote hamlet near Tiruchi, could not afford the treatment for Theja. But they received some financial support from the state and Hope Unlimited, on a request from the private hospital treating the child, put in the rest. Theja is now back home, hopefully to have a new start in life.

(March 2022)