18-yr-old poor boy from J&K gets new lease of life

A 18-year-old boy, born with serious heart ailments, from a remote village in Handwara of Kashmir has got a new lease of life after a surgery at a private hospital in Mohali.
Asif Wani, the sixth child of a poor and partially blind labourer, Abdul Aziz Wani, was diagnosed with complex birth heart defects, multiple conditions of atrial septal defect and severe Pulmonary Stenosis or congenital disorder comprising hole in the upper chambers of the heart.
Belonging to a village in Handwara in the far reaches of Kupwara district, about 10-12 Kms from the LoC, Asif's parents were devastated when they realised that he was suffering from congenital heart disease.

"His parents took him to the local doctors at Srinagar but were turned away due to lack of funds," said Ashiq Hasan Wani, a neighbour, adding the surgery was estimated to cost anything between Rs 2 to Rs 2.5 lakh.
A good samaritan from Handwara, however, brought the matter to the notice of Max India Foundation, which agreed to carry out the surgery free of cost.
The boy reached Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mohali over a fortnight back.

"Villagers managed to gather Rs 16,000 for our travel and stay in Mohali," said Ashiq. "A six-hour surgery was carried out on October 14 that saved his life," Dr Virendar Sarwal of the hospital said here today.

Asif's mother Zareefa Bano was speechless with gratitude as her son narrated the story of their strife before the mediapersons here.
Recalling the traumatic childhood he has had, the teenager said, "My childhood was full of just pain and helplessness. With this crippling disease, all I could do was sit or lie down on my bed and take a few faltering, painful steps to go to the toilet. It was a very depressing state of affairs for my family and me and many times I would wonder what was the point of leading a life like this.