Genesis Foundation- Saving little hearts, saving lives

When a child with a congenital heart defect is born to a poor family then the chances of his treatment and survival unfortunately automatically get lower as they are not able to afford treatment and often have little to no awareness on how to deal. Congenital heart defects don’t affect the child only but the entire family. It is the most common congenital problem in children and is a disease that occurs due to a defect in the structure of the heart. 

Taking certain medications, consuming alcohol, and having diabetes at the time of pregnancy increase the likelihood of the CHD in an infant. It is difficult to determine the specific cause of congenital heart defect but most tend to be genetic and get passed down through families. However, with timely diagnosis and the right treatment, children with congenital heart defects can live a normal life like other children. Children with CHD can die if they are not diagnosed early enough and given the right treatment.  

The treatment for CHD includes either surgery or catheter procedures or a combination of the two depending on the type and severity of the heart defect. These treatments are proven to be successful if the children are diagnosed right after birth or during pregnancy. Unfortunately, due to poverty, most babies are diagnosed late and reach the hospital in a critical stage which decreases their chance of survival. 

Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we support such parents or kids in getting the right treatment as every child has the right to live. In India, there are not many organizations that work in this specific area therefore a greater need. Genesis Foundation is one such children's heart foundation that believes in making a difference in the life of a child and his/her family by providing medical and financial support. 

Saving these children from this potentially life-threatening disease is not a piece of cake, however, we are taking strong steps to help them come out of such problems. Through various partnerships, screening camps and donations the Foundation has been able to help thousands of children with a critical illness. 

 

First the child with CHD identified through an application for support from the hospital, a referral from a district hospital/screening camp or the Foundation is directly contacted via the website or word-of-mouth. 

Next is screening and due diligence to ensure the child fits the GF evaluation criteria of the following:

• Diagnosis of a congenital heart defect 

• 0-18 years of age 

• Family with a joint monthly income of Rs 15,000 or lesser 

GF requires ID proof, income proof, medical documents and photo of the beneficiary. 

The HOPE team after this discusses each case at length with the treating Doctor. 

After the child has been treated, a bill is provided, payment to the hospital is made and then the receipt is given. For record-keeping, each kid's story is documented on the Foundation website, easy to access for all donors. 

You can also be a part of this noble cause. 

Spread the work, volunteer or GIVE towards saving the life of a child with a heart disorder. Remember, there is no such thing as a small donation… every amount goes towards giving life a chance for a little one suffering from CHD. 

You can read the Genesis Foundation Annual Report 2018-19 here: https://www.genesis-foundation.net/annual-report.aspx

(1) http://www.heartindia.net/article.asp?issn=2321-449x;year=2014;volume=2;issue=3;spage=76;epage=79;aulast=Wanni

(2) https://www.ijcmr.com/uploads/7/7/4/6/77464738/ijcmr_682_v1_jun_15.pdf