DURGA Devi, 7, enjoys playing with her friends, playing “catch” and the like.

In fact, no one would know that this little girl had undergone two heart operations — one a PA banding and the other a major open heart surgery — at a tender age.

When she was born, doctors at Kuala Lumpur Hospital realised that she had heart-related problems.

A two-week stay in the ICU and a further three-week stay in the paediatric ward for observations and tests confirmed that she was a hole-in-the-heart patient.

They recommended that the baby be sent to the National Heart Institute. She needed to be operated on as soon as possible but had to be placed on the waiting list due to the high number of patients.
Durga’s father, Thiyagaraja Govindasamy, wanted more confirmation and decided to take the baby to Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Specialists there confirmed that Durga needed immediate surgery.

As a service technician with a low income, Thiyagaraja could not afford the cost involved. His savings and borrowings amounted to only RM10,000.

The hospital informed him that he could seek help from its welfare department. It was here that Thiyagaraja heard of the NSTP Charity Fund.

When news of Durga’s plight was published in the newspaper, donations poured in. A total of RM21,000 was collected for the surgery.

As Durga was only three months old then, specialists recommended a surgical procedure known as PA banding first before she goes for an open heart surgery later to close two holes in her heart.

The first surgery was a success.

When she turned five, Thiyagaraja took Durga to Gleneagles again where the doctors operated on her again. This time, the operation cost some RM41,000, also funded by the NSTP Charity Fund and generous donors.

Although still needing her regular check-ups, Durga is now living her life like any other regular child.

Her father thanked the NSTP Charity Fund and all donors who helped save his child.


* Help save a precious life. Send all cheques (made payable to NSTP Charity Fund) to:
NSTP Charity Fund
Charity Unit, Finance Department
The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
Balai Berita
31 Jalan Riong
59100 Kuala Lumpur