By IANS,
New Delhi : Cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Siddhu donated Rs.1 million to save the life of a 15-month old baby, who underwent a liver-transplant surgery in a hospital here.
Baby boy Nihal underwent a liver transplant surgery four weeks back after over a year of treatment at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, and is now “fit to lead a normal life”, hospital sources said.
“It was a difficult case and a lot of money was required. But there was a financial constraint in the family. A public appeal was made and Siddhu himself donated Rs.1 million and gave him a new lease of life,” Apollo medical director Anupam Sibal told IANS.
A liver transplant requires a minimum of Rs.1.2 to 1.5 million.
After an appeal to the general public for help, an amount of Rs. 16,32,000 was collected for Nihal’s surgery and postoperative care. Help poured in from across the world. Sibal, a child specialist, said the baby was born after two years of fertility treatment.
The baby was undergoing treatment for neonatal jaundice in a Kolkata hospital from where he was referred to the Apollo Hospital last year.
“After treating the kid for around seven months for jaundice, we realized that there is something more to it and then the liver problem was diagnosed. Following which the appeal was made through media,” Sibal added.
“We are grateful to the media and all those who donated to save the life of Nihal,” he added.