Prayagraj: What began as a spiritual journey at Sangam, became the turning point of the life of 25-year-old youth facing severe health conditions.Mahendra, a native of Jari Bazar, was suffering from breathlessness and fatigue. Despite repeated episodes of breathlessness and rapid heartbeat, financial constraints kept proper diagnosis out of reach. In recent months, he was even placed on tuberculosis medication, though his condition continued to deteriorate. For around 3 years, he struggled with his health conditions. When he accompanied his mother to Prayagraj for Kalpwas at the ongoing Magh Mela, his health suddenly collapsed.In a critical state of heart failure, he was rushed to SRN Hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe Mitral Stenosis, a dangerous narrowing of the heart’s left valve that silently worsened over years.For the youth and his family, the pilgrimage turned into a blessing. Recognising his economic hardship, Motilal Nehru Medical College principal Dr VK Pandey stepped in to provide financial assistance, ensuring that the man received a free Balloon Mitral Valvotomy, a life-saving cardiac procedure. Within days, his condition began improving.“This Kalpwas became his second birth,” said a relative, recalling how faith and timely medical care together transformed his fate.Along with Mahendra, cardiologists at SRN Hospital-Dr Vimal Nishad, Dr Vaibhav Srivastava and Dr Rishika Patel successfully treated two other high-risk heart patients using advanced non-surgical techniques.A 58-year-old man from Koraon, who had previously denied bladder surgery due to a dangerous heart defect, underwent successful closure of a 32 mm hole in his heart, making him fit for future surgery. Meanwhile, a 52-year-old woman from Phulpur, suffering from heart failure and liver complications due to a large cardiac defect, also received a minimally invasive device-based correction here.
