A heart, for his doctor

KOCHI: Renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Jose Chacko Periyapuram received a unique gift on Monday from one of his patients, who recently underwent a heart transplant. Joseph Rony, a native of Vallarpadam, a sculptor, gifted the model of a heart to Dr. Periapuram when he has being discharged from the hospital after treatment.

The beautifully carved gift was made by Noby, assistant of Joseph Rony. Noby made the model for Dr. Periapuram as a token of love and respect for saving the life of his sculpture teacher.

It was a unique moment for Dr. Periapuram who has carried out17 heart transplants and more than 15, 000 bypass surgeries as it is for the first time that he is getting such a novel gift from his patients.

Joseph Rony approached Dr. Peripauram in Lisie hospital after he began having problems with the functioning of his heart, four months ago. After the doctors advised a heart transplant, he was waiting for a donor. On January 22, he received the heart of Vysakh, a 21- year- old from Alappuzha Thiruvambady, who was declared brain dead.

“I am very happy that I could recover very fast within three weeks and able to go home,” Joseph Rony said. The transplant has been done with the financial support of neighbours and Joseph Rony’s relatives.

Lisie hospital director Fr. Thomas Vaikkathuparambil, assistant director Fr. Varghese Palatty, Dr. Rony Mathew, Dr. Jacob Abraham and Dr. Jabir Abdullakutty were also present.