MENDING THE HEART
WHEN Josephine Laddpeter was given the all clear to play sports, she closed her eyes and thanked God for answering her prayers.
She is one of more than 70 children who successfully underwent corrective heart surgery over the past three years courtesy of the Sai Prema Foundation.
After a thorough medical onceover at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Medical Centre, Nasese, last Saturday, doctors told her that her surgery had healed and she could now play sports.
“It was the best news I have heard in a while,” the 18-year-old Year 13 student said.
“I was not inactive when I was in primary and high school but I used to tire very easily.”
She also thanked the Children’s Heart Foundation and Sai Prema Foundation for facilitating lifesaving corrective heart surgery in 2016 in India.
“I thank God for allowing me to go to India and have the surgery because I don’t think I would still be around today,” the former Lautoka resident shared during the Sai Prema Foundation’s Gift of Life celebration.
“I was diagnosed with a hole in the heart when I was in Year 8 in 2014 but because of financial difficulties and the fact that my father was battling a chronic lung disease at the time, I was not able to get treated or receive the medical attention I needed then.
“When my dad passed away in 2015 and mum found it hard to take care of us all, we went to live with a grand-aunt in Lautoka.
“I was in a lot of pain in my chest and short of breath a lot of the times.
“I became very withdrawn and not able to do chores or help around the house, I felt bad but I just physically could not do it.”
Ms Laddpeter said her condition was not made known to her new “guardian” and because she was very young at the time, she did not make the link between her physical symptoms and rheumatic heart disease.
“I was constantly falling sick and my guardian would rush me to the hospital and spend several hours helping me get through it.
“It was not until after several visits that my condition was identified.”
She said she was grateful that her “guardian” took the time to take her to hospital each time she got sick, and got her referred to the foundation because it led to her being sent to India for surgery in 2016.
“I was 15 at the time and initially doctors were hesitant to do the operation because of my age and the complications associated
with it but I praise God for allowing them to let me undergo the surgery in India.
“When I returned, there were some minor incidents but over time, I eventually felt my strength return and I allowed myself to dive into my studies.”
Ms Laddpeter topped Year 12 results at St Thomas High School last year and was awarded the Year 12 dux award.
She has since relocated with her grand-aunt to Suva and looks forward to life in the Capital City.
“I know there could be young girls facing situations similar to mine due to poverty or family issues and my only advice to them is to seek God to get through the physical difficulties they may be facing — and to never let anything deter them from achieving their full potential in life.
“For the parents and guardians, if you notice your child having constant chest pains and not participating in family activities or chores, it does not mean they are lazy, they just may not have the strength to do it.
“Please take your child or relative to a health facility and get him or her checked.
“Don’t procrastinate or leave it till too late. You could be saving their life. I must add that having a strong support group aside from family is important, and they can be in the form of good friends, church members, or prayer and youth groups.
“Aside from my guardians, I had the Nadi Wesley Church family who rallied not only in prayer but also in fundraising efforts for me to travel with an uncle to India.”
For the parents and guardians, if you notice your child having constant chest pains and not participating in family activities or chores, it does not mean they are lazy, they just may not have the strength to do it – Josephine Laddpeter