MABALACAT CITY -- The Rotary Clubs (RC) of Mabalacat and Clark Centennial are sending another batch of children to India for an open heart surgery sponsored by the Gift of Life International.
In a joint meeting recently at the Oxford Casino Hotel in Clark, the two clubs invited seven children who will be sent to India in the next few months.
May Shilton, former president of RC Mabalacat, said that operation of the two out of the seven kids was scheduled on June 7.
Shilton also said that the heart surgery is open to children, whose parents cannot afford the high cost of surgery in the Philippines.
P.R. Suresh, international director of Rotary Club of Coimbatore in Saicity India, was the guest of honor and speaker during the said meeting in Clark with the children.
Rotary International District 3790 Governor Tony Bautista is also present in the event. RC Mabalacat is represented by President Elmer Hernandez and RC Clark Centennial by President Bill Campbell.
“We invited five of the 10 children who had their successful surgeries in India in the past several months. Also, the seven children scheduled to leave for India came with their parents for pre-departure briefing,” Shilton said.
“The moment they land in Cochi Airport in India, the Rotarians there will take over.
Suresh will drive for 5 hours just to pick up the patients at the airport to take them to his home in Coimbatore where he will host them (including food and transportation to the hospital) for the next 4 weeks,” she added.
Rotarians from Suresh’s club will be donating blood for the patients, according to Shilton.
The pediatric cardiology surgeon is also a Rotarian. Parents will not be spending anything while in India.
Since 2002, the RC of Coimbatore had performed 660 surgeries on children with congenital heart diseases with 100 percent success rate including 10 from the Philippines, Shilton said.
Of the 10, seven were approved for surgery by the RC Mabalacat and Clark Centennial, while two by RC Pampanga North under the care of Dr. Carina David.
The air fares of the children are shouldered by the local sponsoring clubs.
Recently, the Rotary Club of Taipei and the Hongkong Welsh Male Voice Choir initiated fund raising activity to sponsor three children from Pampanga.
Those who are interested to avail of free heart surgery they may contact the Rotary Club of Mabalacat or Rotary Club of Clark Centennial. Requirement is latest 2D echo. Only children up to the age of 14 years of age are accepted.
You may also call PP May Shilton or PP Tony Shilton at 0929-393-6852 or visit GVAM every Friday at 3:30 p.m.