Shetty helps local child in need of heart surgery

| 14/03/2011

(CNS): A four-year-old child who was born with serious heart problems has returned to Cayman safe and well after a successful open heart surgery performed in India. The operation was organized by Dr Devi Shetty, who plans to develop a health city here in Cayman through the Indian Have a Heart programme. The surgery, which was essential to prevent the need for a heart transplant in future, came about after Robert Hamaty, the owner of the Tortuga Rum Company, approached Shetty’s friends to find out if he could help the child, who is the daughter of his head baker. Hamity said the cost for this type of surgery in the US would be approximately US$800,000 to one million.

“As Doctor Shetty is planning to open a hospital here in the Cayman Islands I contacted his friends and they offered to do the heart surgery free and all we had to do was get them there,” Hamaty explained, adding that he started the fund with $1,000 which grew to almost $6,000 following a Bar-B-Que organised by staff at Tortuga. With that money the family had enough to cover the cost of the airfares and general expenses on the trip for both the little girl and her mother.

“Thanks to Gene Thompson, Harry Chandi and Dr Shetty, the operation was free,” Hamaty stated. 

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Dr. Shetty seems to have had a heart in assisting this little girl, and continued health is wished. There seems to be some other Caymanian children, and adults suffering with heart problems. Can funds be raised to help these ?? and then Dr. Shetty can open his heart further to help the more serious ones – probably by the time his Hospital is completed it might be too late. The Minister for Health could assist by providing a list Caymanians to work with. Mr. Hamity and others would be the ideal persons to give a helping hand where there is the need for the Caymanians.

  2. ANONYMOUS says:

    Thanks for your generosity Dr Shetty.

    This act and the level of care and service should open the eyes of the critics who oppose the entry of Dr Shetty and other potential interested  practitioners to the island.

    As for the critics, stop playing politics and protecting special interest groups on the island like the vested doctors who care more about their income but not concerned about the cost of the health care costs being borne by the average Caymanian.

     

  3. Monique Hamaty-Simmonds says:

    Dear Dr. Shetty, Mr. Chandi, Mr. Thompson & Capt. Hamaty-
    I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your efforts for Leonisha Lofters. This effort which you have all been a part of is an act of kindness. Someone once told me that “Once you begin to acknowledge random acts of kindness—both the ones you have received and the ones you have given—you can no longer believe that what you do does not matter.”
    May God Bless you all.
    Thank you for what you have done for this little girl and I hope that The Cayman Islands embraces your plans for the hosptial.

  4. I see you says:

    Gotta give credit where credit is due. Congratulations to the young lady and a harty job well done to Robbie, Harry, Gene, Dr Shetty and anyone else who donated to this cause. God bless.

  5. Dred says:

    This and more is what I fully expect from Dr Shetty and his institution. Dr Shetty is a man with a heart. Yes he is a businessman and yes he will strive to make a fortune off of his investment.

    I would advise anyone who does not like him or feels away about his project to do some research on the man first. This is nothing new to him. His records indicate that he goes out of his way to help people in need.

    Here’s a little snippet:

    "The hospital also acts as a philanthropist by charging less than the normal cost for procedures like angiogram and cardiac surgery to people who cannot afford to pay the huge costs."

    I have read in other articles about him doing many free operations for young children so reading this article was of no surprise to me. This is a regular practice for Dr Shetty. It may seem rather ODD and over the top here but that is because many of our medical people here are all about lining their pockets.

    Thank You Dr Shetty for giving this young girl a fighting chance at life.!!

  6. Anonymous says:

    Its nice to know that “Not everything is done for the love of Money”.

  7. joe from NY says:

    Wonderful, Best of luck to this little angle and her family.  Thepeople of the Island should welcome Dr Devi Shetty and his plan, not put up road blocks every step of the way.

  8. satch says:

    hi..!

    this is not only the heartwarming story of 4year old littel girl of cayman island.
    there are thousends of such heart warming fact , going on at Dr shetty hospital in india.childern and patiants comeing from remore corner of india , bangaladesh africa pakisatn,more then 70 country comeing to dr shetty hospital and goback with new life…!

    people say him as a doctor some say him as a GODs ANGELS..! . and keep his photo as Godly feeling..!

    if doctor realy start a hospital at cayman island cayman people fortunate enough to have It. but dr shetty is pressurerised to start few more big project at different continent like africa and middeleast .as per other medical blog and medical tourisem news…!

    satch

  9. Anonymous says:

    Sad, to realize that in this "wealthy" christian country one can not get properly insured.

    I am very happy for the parents, but disgusted by this country.

  10. petermilburn says:

    Finally some great news for a change away from all the other nonsense going on.Hopefully she will lead a very healthy active life.Well done Robert and hopefully we will hear more of these sort of stories.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Speechless !

  12. Anonymous says:

    Such a heartwarming story. God bless Dr. Shetty, Mr. Hamaty and all those who helped this beautiful child.

  13. Wonderful says:

    What a heartwarming story.  Thank you Dr Shetty and friends for organising this.