Indian heart saves Pakistani teen’s life

Pakistani teen Ayesha Rashan from Karachi, Pakistan, got a new life after a successful heart transplant surgery in Chennai’s MGM Healthcare.

According to NDTV, Rashan was on ECMO and she underwent a full heart transplant after her heart pump developed a leak in a valve.

The cost of the procedure is said to be Rs3.5 million, which was borne by the hospital and Chennai-based Aishwaryam Trust.

The 19-year-old came to India for the first time in 2019 with a severe heart dysfunction, which eventually led to heart failure.

Dr. KR Balakrishnan, Director of the Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant and Dr Suresh Rao, Co-Director of the Institute learned about the emergency and the financial assistance Rashan needed.

They said the teen received the heart immediately as there were no competing claims. Otherwise, a foreigner can’t get an organ. She received a heart from a 69-year-old, brain-dead patient from Delhi.

Rashan, all set to return to Pakistan, aspires to become a fashion designer.