A tribal suffering from heart disease was robbed of cash; doctors and social workers ensured he was successfully operated
A tribal suffering from heart disease was robbed of cash; doctors and social workers ensured he was successfully operated
With only a pair of clothes and a few hundred rupees in his pocket, Laxman Varta (22) travelled over 120 km with his father and brother to get receive treatment for a heart ailment only to get duped by a stranger.
Varta was diagnosed with Rheumatic heart disease, a condition where the valves are left damaged. On reaching Sion hospital, Varta, a tribal from Vikramgadh, met a stranger who he claims cheated him of his life savings of Rs 2,000, and even took away his medical file.
"They work as farmers, and share a small plot of land. Owing to his ill health the family was leading a hand-to-mouth existence," said Dr Yashwant Gabhale, Associate professor of pediatrics at the hospital, who has been handling Varta's treatment and fund-raising efforts.
While social workers were mobilising funds for Laxman's surgery (estimated cost was Rs 1.75 lakh), a young man approached Varta's father, Govind on April 3 to say he could help them get the surgery done sooner.u00a0 "He told me to accompany him to a doctor and entered a cabin asking me to wait outside. He came out saying the doctor had asked for Rs 2,000 so that the surgery can take place within a week. I gave him the money and he fled," said an aggrieved Govind. The thief was not caught despite CCTV footage being available.
A day after the incident, the social worker garnered funds through the state-funded Jeevan Dayi scheme and other trusts. Three days ago, Laxman underwent a double valve replacement surgery and is scheduled to be discharged soon.
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