TITILIA Tariuduvako, a 39-year-old resident of Wainivo Settlement in Wailotua, Tailevu, received life-altering news concerning her son, Joeli Tubuna, last year. Despite appearing healthy and exhibiting no symptoms, a screening conducted by a visiting team from the National University Hospital (NUH) revealed that Joeli, now seven, had a congenital heart defect characterized by a hole in his heart.
On November 27, 2023, after the screening, Ms. Tariuduvako was informed that her son’s condition required surgical intervention, which is slated for February 2025. The family, initially taken aback by the diagnosis, found solace in the fact that all four of her other sons had been screened and were healthy.
“I was so shocked; he seemed perfectly fine,” she said, emphasizing the importance of health screenings for children. Following the diagnosis, she communicated the situation to her husband, who was in Australia working under a palm scheme. He urged her to seek further information about Joeli’s health.
Appreciative of the support from the Sai Prema Foundation and the hospital in Suva, where Joeli received treatment, Ms. Tariuduvako is hopeful about her son’s future. “I am so happy that he got this gift of life,” she expressed. “They provide everything for free, and I urge other parents to have their children screened; it could save their lives.”
This narrative echoes the experiences of other families benefiting from the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital, where similar life-saving procedures have been performed. For instance, Emali Kurulo from Yasawa also discovered her daughter had a heart defect after a screening organized by the Sai Prema Foundation. Since the foundation’s inception in April 2022, they have successfully facilitated numerous heart surgeries, profoundly impacting the lives of many children and their families.
The emphasis on early screening resonates strongly in these accounts, reminding parents of the crucial role these assessments play in ensuring children’s health. The proactive approach to healthcare taken by these families, combined with the availability of this special medical service, offers hope and demonstrates how accessible healthcare can dramatically change lives for the better.
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