Sivaraman Krishnan, 32 is the recipient of a mechanical heart under the National Heart Institute (IJN) Mechanical Heart Programme on 21 September 2011. This father of four, underwent an implant operation at IJN on 28 March 2011 and awaits a heart to facilitate a transplant.

“When I was sick at that time, to climb up a storey was not possible. Now I am able to go up the 16-storey flats. “I am grateful to the doctors who have given me a better life.”He is the first patient in the country to have gone for an implant and wears two pouches around his waist for the battery and controller which displays the pump parameters.

Shelter’s Community Officer interviewed the family in December 2013 under its Community Food Aid Programme and discovered that the family is beset with financial and work constraints. Sivaraman’s wife works in a fastfood restaurant and her income is insufficient to meet the monthly household expenses.

Sivaraman has to take seven types of medication for his non-ischaemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy (end stage heart failure and pulmonary hypertension), and continues to receive treatment from IJN and the Cardiology department. Shelter seeks your help for this family to overcome these constraints.

Here is how you can assist them: sponsor the educational needs, fees and bus fares for Sivaraman’s children. Danish Raj, 11 studies at Sekolah Kebangsan Seri Perak, while Ruban Raj, 9 is in Sekolah Kebangsan Tamil, Sentul, KL. He has two other children: Sharmili, 8 and Sugan Raj, 6 in pre-school.