Pakistani girl gets heart transplant in India's Chennai

A teenager hailing from Pakistan, Ayesha Rashan got a heart transplant in India after she faced a decade-long struggle with a heart condition. 

At the age of nineteen, Ayesha had been grappling with heart disease for a significant portion of her life. In 2014, she sought medical assistance in India, where she underwent a procedure to implant a heart pump aimed at supporting her ailing heart. Regrettably, the device failed to deliver the expected results, compelling medical experts to recommend a critical step: a heart transplant, essential for her survival.

Determined to explore all avenues for Ayesha's well-being, her family turned to the expertise of renowned professionals, including Dr. KR Balakrishnan, Director of the Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant, and Dr. Suresh Rao, Co-Director, at MGM Healthcare Hospital in Chennai.

Following thorough evaluation, the medical team concluded that a heart transplant was imperative, especially given the failure of the heart pump due to a developed leak.

Ayesha underwent an Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) procedure, a vital step in preparing for the transplant.

Amidst the hope for a new beginning, the family grappled with the pressing concern of financial constraints. With the estimated cost of the transplant standing at approximately Rs 35 lakh, they faced daunting hurdles in financing the procedure, underscoring the significant challenges intertwined with Ayesha's journey toward recovery.