The three Fijian children who received heart surgeries return home.

A few weeks ago in August, Shivangani Chand said goodbye to her schoolmates at Rabulu Indian School in rural Tavua, Fiji — but not as any 10-year old child might on a typical Friday afternoon. The following day she traveled to Nadi with her mother, where she joined two other children, Josefo Qionibaravi of Nausori and Timoci Tagiciverata of Kadavu, on a life-changing journey.

These three children were all identified by the Fiji College of General Practitioners (FCGP) Children”s Heart Foundation as having severe heart defects, correctable only by surgery overseas. Shivangani suffered from heart valve deterioration caused by rheumatic heart disease, but the needed surgery and airfare to India, at $18,000 FJD (more than $9,000 US, at the time of this posting), was far beyond her family”s modest means.

As a cane-cutting laborer supporting four children, her father, Saras Chand, struggles to make ends meet. Shivangani is the only daughter in the family and excels in school, despite having to take a few semesters away due to sickness. Since her valve dysfunction was first identified, her parents feared the worst and wondered how they would ever afford the needed surgery, which costs patients over $40,000 FJD ($20,000) in Australia or New Zealand.

FIJI Water Foundation’s support of the FCGP Children”s Heart Foundation has given Shivangani a second chance at a normal life. The FIJI Water Foundation funds projects around Fiji in the three priority areas of health, education, and water infrastructure.

Shivangani poses for a photo after her return from Chennai, India, where she underwent heart surgery.

This past Wednesday morning, along with family, FIJI Water employees and Foundation representatives welcomed Shivangani back to Fiji after a successful open heart surgery at Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai, India. Shivangani, Josefa, Timoci and their parents arrived back on their native soil to a local fanfare by FIJI Water and Vodafone. (Justin and Timoci”s surgeries and airfare were sponsored by Vodafone ATH Foundation.)

For Shivangani and her mother, it was their first trip on an airplane. Mrs. Chand, speaking in Hindi, said that she was very scared to fly but Shivangani was the brave one and she in turn had to be brave for her daughter. Mrs. Chand raved about the care and the facilities at Frontier Lifeline, and was happy to see how lively Shivangani has been since the surgery three weeks ago. Her daughter could not wait to get back to school and was busy doing homework on the plane ride home. Said Shivangani”s uncle Pramesh Prakash, “We are truly grateful to FIJI Water and its Foundation for assisting us.”

Family members anxiously await the return of Shivangani at the Nadi airport.

As FCGP Children’s Heart Foundation president Dr. Ponnu Goundar has said, these children presented difficult cases and India was the best option. In addition, the FIJI Water Foundation is a major sponsor of the Friends of Fiji Heart Foundation, who arrived in the country today. Their team of volunteer surgeons and medical personnel will perform free corrective heart surgeries for Fiji”s needy residents from September 10th-18th at Lautoka Hospital. This visit makes additional training and resources available to our local doctors and nurses during their duration of their stay.