Appeal


Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006

I can hear now!

M. Gunasekaran

SOUND BYTES: ENT surgeon V. Anand with a child on whom a cochlear implant surgery was performed.
POLLACHI: For the eleven-year-old Shanthini, it was like rebirth. A daughter of a poor autorickshaw driver, she suddenly lost hearing six months ago because of high fever. Her parents lost their hope of restoring her hearing.

They were all smiles on Saturday. Efforts of a team of dedicated doctors, who successfully performed a surgery on her for cochlear implant brought back to her the sound and fury of life.

The cost of the surgery, Rs. 6 lakh, was raised by forming a trust.

Dr. V. Anand, the director of the cochlear implant programme of MCV Memorial ENT Trust Hospital, said Shanthini was a normal school going child till six months ago.

"The appeal given by her was posted on our website and we circulated a compact disc carrying her appeal among many persons. That evoked good response,'' he said.

Alankar Group of Companies, Karur-based Atlas Exporters, GRG Trust, Sakthi Group of Companies and Ramraj Cottons were the major donors. More than 200 other donors from all walks of life contributed.

"I requested all my patients to help poor children instead of paying my fee. Most of them responded positively by contributing three to four times of my charges,'' said Dr. Anand.

The trust has helped another six-year-old child, Damodharan, who suffered from partial deafness since his birth. Cochlear implant was performed on him a month ago and 40 per cent of the expenses was met by the trust.

Dr. K. Thangamuthu, vice-president of Indian Medical Association, Tamil Nadu, gave external speech processors to the parents of the children during the Ninth ENT Live Surgical Workshop held here on Saturday.

The Coimbatore District Collector, Neeraj Mittal, interacted with several patients who have undergone the cochlear implant surgery.

The equipment receives signals from outside in the form of radio waves and is not connected by wires. The stimulator is kept inside the hair using a powerful magnet.Dr. Anand said that eight poor children were awaiting the surgery.

It will be performed as soon as the trust gets enough money.

For details phone: 0425996 225122, 9843396 99650, 98433 99651.

This sweet little child Shanthini, all of 12 years, was like Any other child leading a perfectly normal life. Four months back she suffered a severe fever following which she lost her hearing and became completely deaf.

The only way to restore her hearing is to implant the child with an electronic device called “COCHLEAR IMPLANT”. The total cost of implanting the child would be Rs.5.12 lakh (for the implant device) + 1 lakh (surgical + rehabilitation expenses).

Keeping in view the child’s poor socio-economic status (father is an auto-rickshaw driver) the implant company have brought down the cost to Rs.4.40 lakhs and we at MCV Memorial ENT Trust Hospital, Pollachi have waived off the entire surgical + rehabilitation fees.

This is an appeal to one and all to come forward with your generous contributions and help the child to get her life back. Please send cheque/DD favouring MCV memorial ENT trust. Payable at Pollachi.

* These contributions will be IT exempt under section 80G.

Dr.V.ANAND MB.,DLO.,MS .,( Director)

Contributors

1. MCV Memorial ENT Trust Hospital-Pollachi.

2. Alankar Group of Companies-Coimbatore.

3.Mr.Radhakrishnan - Coimbatore.
My Son Master.Damotharan, 6Yrs old has profound sensorineural hearing loss and his speech is also affected. The only form of treatment that will benefit him is a Cochlear implant surgery. The cost of this treatment is Rs.6.12 lakhs(Rupees Six Lakhs and twelve thousand only). I humbly request help from the public as my financial status is poor. Contribution may be payable in the form of Demand Drafts/Cheques in faviour of "MCV Memorial ENT Trust, A/c Damotharan" 106,Palghat Road, Pollachi-642 001, Coimbatore Dist,TN(Tel: 04259-225122).

V.KATHAVARAYAN (Father).
Contributors

1.M/s.Jagannath TextileCompany Limited-Coimbatore.

2. Ms.Archana Ashok-Coimbatore.

3. M/s.Elango Enterprises-Mettur Dam.

4.Mr.P.R.Ramasamy-Coimbatore.

5.Ms.Geethanjali-Salem.

6.Mr.Prakash.B.-Hosur.

7.Mr.Kaliappan.R.-Coimbatore.

8.Mr.Guru-Ooty.

9.Ms.Mahalakshmi-Udumalpet.

10.Mr.John Kandathil Cherian-Coimbatore.

11.Mr.Sivakumar-Coimbatore.

12. Mr.Kavidasan-Coimbatore.

13.Mr.Rajasekaran-Coimbatore.

14.Mr.V.S.Arul-Vettaikaranpudhur.

15.M/S.Shirdi Sai Trust-Pattipuram.

16.M/s.Motilal Ranga Charitable Trust-Coimbatore.

17.Mr.Ramani Nambisan-USA.

18.Mr.M.Manickam-Coimbatore.

19.M/s.Lodge Meridian 287 Charitable Trust-Coimbatore.

20.Mr.Moorthy-Pollachi.

21. M/s.Annapoorna Gowri Shankar Hotel-Coimbatore.

22. Mr.Radhakrishnan-Coimbatore.