Chennai’s Madras Medical Mission Saves 13-Year-Old Boy with Life-Saving Heart Transplant

Chennai, 15 October 2025: A 13-year-old boy from an economically disadvantaged background made a remarkable recovery at Madras Medical Mission (MMM) Hospital, Chennai, after facing life-threatening complications from a chronic heart condition.

His condition rapidly worsened, leading to a dramatic drop in heart function, unresponsive blood pressure, kidney failure requiring dialysis, and liver congestion. A heart transplant became the only viable option. With his father working as a driver and unable to afford the high cost, financial support was arranged through MMM’s Social Works Department and a major Trust.

Just as doctors considered temporary cardiac support, a donor heart from a young adult became available through TRANSTAN, far sooner than expected. The match was excellent, and the transplant was scheduled immediately. Moments before surgery, the boy suffered cardiac arrest, but was successfully resuscitated, allowing the transplant to proceed.

Post-surgery, his kidneys resumed function, and recovery—expected to take months—was significantly accelerated, thanks to MMM’s dedicated team. He has since undergone positive review check-ups and is currently continuing his education online, with plans to return to school pending medical clearance.

Key Medical Team: Dr. Vijit Koshy Cherian – Director, Heart Transplant; Dr. C. Arumugam – Senior Consultant, Cardiac & Heart Failure Surgery; Dr. Shanmuga Perumal Paramasivan – Senior Consultant, Anaesthesia; Dr. K. Sivakumar – Director, Paediatric Cardiology

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