Indian Heart from Chennai’s MGM Healthcare Saves Pakistani Girl’s Life

Ayesha Rashan, a 19-year-old, recently underwent a life-saving heart transplant in Chennai. The procedure was performed free of cost by surgeons at a city-based medical trust called Aishwaryan Trust, saving her family from financial burden. Ayesha’s family expressed their gratitude towards the trust and the hospital, as they couldn’t have afforded the operation without their support. Ayesha herself expressed her relief after the transplant, and her condition is now stable, allowing her to return to Pakistan.

Prior to the transplant, Ayesha had been admitted with severe heart dysfunction and was put on ECMO, a form of life support for those with life-threatening heart or lung conditions. Subsequently, she developed a valve leak in her heart pump, necessitating the need for a full heart transplant. The cost of such a procedure typically exceeds Rs 35 lakh, but in Ayesha’s case, the bill was covered by the doctors and the trust. The donor heart was sourced from Delhi, and the surgical team emphasized the importance of organ donation and transplant surgery in Chennai.

They highlighted the city’s reputation as the “capital of organ donation and transplant surgery,” attributing this to the pro-active initiatives undertaken by Tamil Nadu decades ago. Additionally, they raised concerns about viable donated organs being discarded in other states due to the high cost of transplant surgery, which many people cannot afford. Overall, Ayesha’s successful transplant serves as a testament to the critical role of medical trusts and organ donation in saving lives, while also drawing attention to the need for more accessible transplant policies nationwide.