KUALA LUMPUR: The father of eight-year-old S. Harsheetaa Sai has expressed his gratitude to Malaysians for raising RM1.5mil for his daughter's upcoming heart surgery in the United States.
R. Selva Ganapathy, 42, said the amount was raised in less than a month after reports about his daughter's congenital heart defect.
"I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your incredible generosity and unwavering support during this challenging time. Thanks to your kindness, we have now reached the fundraising goal necessary to take the next crucial step in my child's journey to healing.
"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also provided financial aid recently, which helped ease the financial burden we felt since day one.
"With your donations, we are now able to proceed with the upcoming treatment and surgery at Boston Children's Hospital, where Harsheetaa will receive the specialised care she needs," he told Bernama.
Selva, who is a teacher at SJK (T) Saraswathy in Sungai Buloh, said he is waiting for his visa interview at the US embassy here. He hopes to leave for the United States mid-April.
"These are all crucial steps before we can travel for the surgery and we feel so much closer to this life-changing opportunity because of your support," he added.
Harsheetaa, who studies at the school where her father teaches, has been battling heterotaxy since birth and requires financial assistance to undergo a procedure at Boston Children's Hospital, a leading medical centre in Massachusetts known for its expertise in treating complex heart conditions.
Heterotaxy is a rare congenital disorder where internal organs develop in abnormal positions due to improper left-right patterning during foetal development. It commonly affects the heart, lungs, liver, spleen and intestines, often leading to severe complications.
On March 20, Anwar extended financial aid to the family of Harsheetaa, and the contribution was delivered by the Prime Minister's political secretary, Datuk Ahmad Farhan Fauzi, during a visit to the child's home in Batu Caves, Selangor. – Bernama
