Their hearts had literally stopped beating on two occasions and time was fast running out. Doctors and relatives were losing hope on reviving them in case of a heart failure the third time. But fate had other plans for Yerra Rani (48) and Sanka Padma (46). Both received donor hearts and underwent transplants within a span of 48 hours, and are relieved people today.
“For a decade, my family underwent a lot of trauma because of my weak heart. I lost count of the number of hospitals and doctors we approached for help. Today, I am alive because of the donor heart, my family, and of course, my doctors who did not give up in the most critical situations,” said Yerra Rani, who underwent a heart transplant late last month at Yashoda Hospitals.
The donor heart for Sanka Padma was flown in from Bengaluru in a chartered flight and she underwent transplant surgery on February 28. “I had lost hope and was getting ready for the end. But, miracles do happen and I am still alive and kicking. Today, I owe my life to the donor heart, doctors and my family,” Padma said during a media interaction at the hospital on Friday, her voice choking with emotion.
Doctors felt there was a need to spread awareness about heart transplants in the country.
“There is a lot of awareness on kidney and liver transplantation. In India, in the last decade or so, only 200 heart transplants have taken place. There is a definite need to spread awareness,” said heart transplant surgeon A.G.K. Gokhale. MD of Yashoda Hospitals G. S. Rao, Jeevandan in-charge Swarnalatha and other top hospital doctors were present during the media interaction.
