A kind gesture that comes from a child has the power to inspire many others into action. As is the case, help has come pouring in for 12-year-old Akshaya who donated a portion from her crowdsourced money for her heart surgery to those affected by the floods in the state of Kerala.
Speaking to TNM over the phone, Sadik Ali, who has been helping Akshaya and her mother Jothimani with the online funding, says over 20 hospitals from across south India have come forward to conduct the surgery free of cost for Akshaya since the news of her donation got around.
“We have been getting many emails and calls from different hospitals who have offered to do it free of cost. Since we are familiar with the team at Apollo and since they already know Akshaya’s case history we find it easier and practical to do it in Apollo,” he says.
But the good news is that the team at Apollo has offered to waive the surgery costs on learning of Akshaya’s generosity and kindness. “We now have to bear the costs of medicine and transport only which we estimate to be around Rs 1.25 lakh. Fortunately, as of Friday afternoon, we’ve been able to raise Rs 95,000,” adds Sadik.
As a kid with a congenital heart condition that needs surgery, Akshaya decided to help those affected and rendered homeless in the recent Kerala floods. From the Rs 20,000 she collected through crowdfunding, Akshaya pledged Rs 5000 as part of her contribution for Kerala relief funds.
This will be Akshaya’s second surgery following her first which was done in November last year. Akshaya, who hails from Komarapalayam near Thanthonimalai in Karur district of Tamil Nadu, lives with her grandparents, mother and sisters.
Jothimani, her mother, is a single parent and a daily wage farm labourer who toils through the day to support her three daughters. Jothimani raised Rs 3.5 lakh for Akshaya’s first surgery with the help of Sadik through online crowdfunding.
Sadik Ali has been helping those who’ve come to him for help. “We’ve been able to successfully help three of them, including Akshaya, so far to help raise funds for their surgeries. We believe in the goodwill of people and in Akshaya’s case it has been proved once again,” he adds.