Heart surgery can save this 10-year-old
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 4
Kamaljit is unaware of the agony and pain his mother is undergoing these days because of his condition. Ten-year-old Kamaljit, if he has to maintain his smile, will have to undergo immediate heart surgery. He turns blue even after mild exertion because of a hole in his heart.

A resident of Shimlapuri, Jagjit Kaur, mother of Kamaljit, said his son had stopped going to school because of recurrent chest pain and as he would turn blue even in class. She was shocked when, after investigations, she came to know that her son was suffering from a genetic heart disorder.

“He is my only child. He keeps on smiling all the time and I want him to be like that for the whole of his life. But it is very difficult for me to bear the cost of his treatment, which will be around Rs 3 lakh. Even if I put in all my efforts, I will not be able to save him. I earn only Rs 100 at the end of the day after stitching clothes, but I am ready to sell my house for the sake of my child”, she maintained.

The boy has been admitted at Sigma New Life Heart Institute. Dr Harinder Singh Bedi, the cardiac surgeon treating him, claimed that the hospital authorities had decided to waive the operation fee and stay charges, but more amount would be required for medicines and consumables used during surgery.

Dr Bedi said Kamaljit was the sixth child who would be operated upon at the centre in the last three months. Because of lack of facilities and expertise in paediatric heart surgery, all such children had to go to Bangalore or Delhi for treatment." We appeal to NGOs, and the district administration to come forward for charity to help out Kamaljit, who may die because of lack of funds”, said Dr Bedi.

Dr Bedi further added that the hole in the heart would cause mixing of pure blood with impure blood, which ultimately led to cyanosis or blue baby syndrome. Due to this defect, blood did not reach other parts of the body, the heart had started to fail and lungs got damaged. “Surgery at the earliest is the only alternative to make the child normal”, stressed Dr Bedi.

Mandeep wins shot put title
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, March 4
Mandeep Kaur, first-year student of ECE, won the shot put title at the 8th annual athletics meet of the Sat Guru Ram Singh Government Polytechnic for Women, Rishi Nagar, here today. Mandeep was followed by Usha of ECE second-year and Gazal of ECE first-year.

The competition started with 100 m heats, followed by 100 m hurdles, 400 m race, shot put, high jump and fun games. Mr Ajit Pal Singh Rimpy inaugurated the meet and took the salute at the marchpast. He was welcomed by the principal, Ms Harvinder Kaur. She read out the annual report. Mr Rimpy announced cash assistance of Rs 30,000 for the construction of the basketball court on the campus.

Results: shot put- Mandeep Kaur 1, Usha 2, Gazal 3; 400 m — Jaspreet Kaur 1, Harpreet Kaur 2, Usha Rani 3; three-legged race — Davinder Kaur and Gurdeep Kaur 1, Navdeep Kaur and Gagandeep Kaur 2, Reecha Rana and Supriya 3; high jump — Jaspreet Kaur 1, Harpreet Kaur 2, Usha Rani 3; 100 m hurdles — Navdeep Kaur 1, Sharanpal Kaur 2, Mandeep Kaur 3; potato race — Monisha 1, Nandana 2, Manav Bala 3; staff race — Mohan Lal 1, Baljit 2, Manu Kumar 3.