For a farming couple from Tumakuru district, the birth of twins after six years of waiting was a dream come true. But their joy quickly turned into anxiety when one of the newborns developed a serious heart condition that required urgent medical intervention.
Their daughter, Baby N (name changed), was born prematurely through IVF and weighed only 1.8 kg. Soon after birth, she developed breathing difficulties and feeding problems, leading to her admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
A rare heart condition
Doctors initially suspected that the infant was suffering from Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC), a complex congenital heart defect that affects blood flow between the lungs and the heart.
The child’s parents visited several hospitals in search of treatment but were reportedly turned away because of her extremely low weight and the high-risk nature of the surgery.
With limited financial resources and mounting medical concerns, the family struggled to find a solution.
Hope arrives at the right time
Help eventually came through the Neonates Foundation of India (NFI), which supports critically ill newborns requiring specialised care.
The infant was referred to Manipal Hospital, where doctors agreed to take up the challenging case despite the risks involved.
During surgery, doctors discovered that the baby did not have TAPVC as initially suspected. Instead, she was found to have Cor Triatriatum, a rare congenital heart defect in which a membrane divides part of the heart into separate chambers.
The surgical team adapted its approach during the procedure and successfully corrected the defect.
A happy recovery
The treatment, including surgery and hospital care, reportedly cost nearly ₹18 lakh. The expenses were covered through support from the Manipal Foundation, Neonates Foundation of India and Adhyan Charitable Trust.
Today, Baby N weighs more than 4.5 kg, no longer requires heart medication and is recovering well.
For the family, the successful surgery marks a new beginning after months of uncertainty.
“We want other parents facing similar struggles to know that they should not hesitate to seek help,” the child’s mother said. “Sometimes, help can make all the difference.”