For Shivaji Bhosale, memories of his 50th birthday will always be special as the day marked the beginning of a new life, quite literally. Bhosale was admitted to a city hospital for an open-heart surgery, which was scheduled on his birthday putting his family in a fix. However, since the doctor had suggested the day for his operation, Bhosale’s family had to agree with the same.

Bhosale was suffering from calcific aortic stenosis — a condition that narrows aortic valve. He would often have bouts of breathlessness and sweat profusely in his sleep. His family soon realised that his symptoms were not good news and took him to a local doctor who informed that his valves have been severely damaged.