# 130 Healing Little Hearts

Matching Grant at work

A time to meet children who will benefit from
the Healing Hearts  Matching Grant

Is scheduled to have surgery soon

mothers wear hospital pajamas with the children

mothers waiting with their children for surgery

waiting for surgery

out of ICU and on her way to healing

In ICU after surgery while her sister watches from window (below)

 

Healing Little Hearts, 100 Surgeries was the challenge presented by RIDE Shekhar Mehta in Calcutta.  The young children all have congenital heart disease, whose parents could not  pay for the required surgery.  Thw average family income is a mere 3,000 rupees per month (about $70.00).  The regular cost of the surgery -  $3,500, a bargain by our standards is not a possibility for these families.  Through the Matching Grant, doctors donate their time and the surgeries are preformed for an average of $1000 per patient.

Group Leader, IPDG Nancy Barbee of District 7730 and IPDG Jodi Light of District 7550 decided to help after our visit last year and with 4 other districts came up with the Matching Grant.   The gathering at  the Birla hospital in Calcutta gave us opportunity to meet the patients and families face to face, and were touched by the outcome of this effort.  Jodi did not come with us this year, but another club member traveling with us will share her touching experience of meeting the children and families. We were all overcome by the deep expressions of gratitude from the parents. You instantly fall in love with these children.