Heart transplant patient’s family in financial bind

Kalyan:Financial troubles have gripped the family of 22-year-old Anwar Khan, the first patient to undergo a heart transplant in Mumbai in 47 years.
The Badlapur-based family has a debt running into lakhs of rupees, even as it needs thousands per month for Anwar’s post-transplant medical bills, said his father, Jameel Khan. His wife’s jewellery has been pawned and the family’s once-thriving scrap business is shrinking.“We spent Rs 25 lakh on Anwar in the 18 months leading up to the transplant on August 3,” said his mother Shahida Khan.
Anwar’s family has rented a flat in the building they live in so that he can stay in a relatively cleaner environment with minimum interaction with outsiders. But the family also has five other children and education to factor in while looking into Anwar’s special needs.
“We did not understand what to do as in the absence of money. I am not able to concentrate on my business, which seems to be shrinking with each passing day,” said Jameel. Shahida added, “Along with my son’s medical expenditure, I have five other children; two of whom are in college.”
Anwar, who needs to stay indoors for another six to nine months depending on his recovery, hopes the city’s reputation of being large hearted will help. “So far, only a dahi handi mandal has come forward to help us by giving some money towards my medicines every month. But that is not sufficient to cover all my medical needs.”
When Anwar was discharged from Fortis Hospital, Mulund, after the transplant, his doctors had said he would need to be careful about his environment and food for at least a year. Heart transplants are known to be particularly vulnerable to influenza and chest infections.
Anwar said, “We are thankful to Fortis, which bore the Rs 25 lakh expense for the transplant. If not for that gesture, I wouldn’t have been alive today.”