There are many children born with life-threatening heart defects in India each year. Without surgery, these children will weaken and die as they grow into adolescence and adulthood, if not much, much sooner.  These are surgeries that would be done routinely in the USA shortly after birth.

We call these Gift of Life surgeries since the children will die without them.

Our partner club is the Rotary Club of Salem Mid-Town, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.

 The Gift of Life Project (MG 51313) got underway on January 25, 2004 with a screening camp held to identify the 15 children who would benefit from these surgeries.

 
 Local doctors evaluated many infants and children to select the 15 we will be able to help with this grant.

 A child being screened. 

 
 A newspaper clipping from the local Salem, India 
 newspaper highlighting the screening camp.

  
Dr. Balasundaram, two very grateful parents 
 and a nurse with our first patient receiving 
 Rotary's Gift of Life through this grant.

 
 Dr. B. checks on our little patient. 
 Thanks, Dr. Balasundaram, for caring so much

 
Our second patient

 
 Another recent patient

 
 Our sixth patient, 7 year old Vijayaraj, is recovering well.

 
Ms. Vijayalakshmi, age 18.
 Surgery done in March 2005

  
This project was designed to save the lives of 15 young people. Through the hard work of our partners in the Rotary Club of Salem Mid-Town, India, we were able to help 20 children instead. Our thanks to our project partners ! Great job !