ABOUT US

Three Rivers Kids Foundation is a Registered Charitable Organization in Ontario, Canada (BN 87012 2504 RR0001). The goal of this organization is to help sick children in Guyana whose parents are too poor to afford medical care. We pay for the medical treatment for children who need to be brought overseas.

There are hundreds of sick and poor children in Guyana who are in desperate need of medical help. Guyana does not have any paediatric cardiac surgeons and lacks many medical specailists and facilities. These children have to be brought overseas for treatment. Most of these children suffer from life threatening conditions and will not survive if they do not receive the proper medical care.

Three Rivers Kids Foundation has no overhead costs such as office rent, utility bills, or salaries. All the board members are unpaid volunteers. Every dollar that is donated goes directly to helping the children.

This foundation supplies medications to children from Guyana on a regular basis. We also supply wheel chairs, commodes, prescription eye glasses, and hearing aids.

Three Rivers Kids Foundation is registered as an Non Governmental Organization in Guyana since February 2008.
 

REPORT OF MISSION HEARTBEAT - MAY 2008

THIRTEEN GUYANESE PATIENTS RETURN HOME AFTER MEDICAL TREATMENT IN INDIA:

IN 30 MONTHS THREE RIVERS KIDS FOUNDATION HAS SUCCESSFULLY TREATED 46 PATIENTS.

In May 2008 Three Rivers Kids Foundation of Ontario helped thirteen Guyanese patients to get much needed life saving medical treatment in India for various medical conditions. Eleven patients had open heart surgeries, one had a kidney transplant and one received treatment for congenital dislocation of the left hip.

The 11 cardiac patients suffered from various congenital abnormalities of the heart such as Tetraolgy of Fallot, Ventricular Septal Defect, Atrial Septal Defects and incompetent heart valves. There were also two patients who suffered from Rheumatic heart disease and required valve replacements. Some of the children had developed Pulmonary Artery Hypertension as a result of not being able to get the required treatment soon after birth. One child had severe Pulmonary Artery Hypertension, which made post operative recovery period longer. She had to remain in Intensive Care Unit for 8 days post operatively. Despite all the complications, the patients made incredible recovery.

All of the cardiac patients were diagnosed in January, 2008 during a free cardiac screening clinic which was conducted in Guyana by Dr. Viresh Mahajan, Paediatric Cardiologist from India. If it was not for this clinic, Farzeina Ali age 5 years, would not have received treatment. Farzeina was abandoned by her mother when she was one month old. This child is under the care of her grandmother. Farzeina was referred to Three Rivers Kids Foundation in 2006 with a diagnosis from Guyana of Truncus. Truncus is an abnormality of the heart which has to be treated soon after birth, otherwise the condition becomes inoperable. She was, therefore, considered inoperable. When Farzeina was examined by Dr. Mahajan in January 2008, he discovered that she was not a case
of Truncus, rather she was suffering from Tetralogy of Fallot. This child was cyanotic (blue) most of the time. She could not eat, could not walk, has never attended school etc. After corrective heart surgery, Farzeina looks at the mirror frequently and examines her tongue and lips. She realizes that the colour of her face has changed. She talks about going to school, is eating well and has gained weight. Now Farzeina, and the other children in the group are healthy and are hoping to start school in September for the first time. "It is rewarding and remarkable to see the changes in these children daily." They are adorable and so anxious to return home to their families to begin their new lives.

For the first time, Three Rivers Kids Foundation has taken an adult patient from Guyana to India for kidney transplant. Shoma Lalgie, age 22 years was suffering from complete renal failure. Her father, Bhagwandeen Lalgie donated one of his kidneys to his daughter. Both Shoma and her father have recovered well. The cost of the kidney transplant, including all preoperative testing and hospital stay and accommodation is US$15,000. Medications will cost about US$350 per month which Shoma will have to take for life. Jeanette Singh who was with the patient in India said, "It was the first time that I had to deal with this sort of illness. I have learnt a lot from the doctors here who were extremely helpful and never too busy to answer my questions".

The group of 13 patients left Guyana on April 29th and returned on May 28th. The names of the children who benefited from this mission are Makhi Winfield 13months from Linden, Marissa Roopchand 18months from Cornedia Ida, Virendra Dookie 2 years from Tuschen, Jasmine Fredericks 5 years from Sophia, Breanna Hunte 5 years from Georgetown, Kaaran Orhandunte 4 years from Skeldon, Shiv Sooklall 6 years from Leguan, Bhanumatie Persaud, 10 years from Canal #1, Farzeina Ali 5 years from New Amsterdam, Marlon Reid 23 years from New Amsterdam, Shoma Lalgie 22years from Vreed-en-hoop, Beesham Singh 5 years Wakeanaam, and Suhkranie Victor. from Goed Fortune.

The mothers who accompanied the children were very surprised by the caring attitudes of the doctors who were never too busy to answer their questions and explained every step of the treatment plan to them. To quote some of their remarks, "This is like a miracle, the doctors here are amazing." This group of parents are very grateful to everyone who helped them.

Three Rivers Kids Foundation would like to thank the Cardiac team consisting of Dr. Viresh Mahajan, Dr. Anil Bhan, Dr Rajesh Sharma. Dr. Ramesh Kumar (Nephrologist) and all the other medical staff at
Batra Hospital.

The total cost of the mission including the cost for all 13 surgeries, airfares for the patients and their companions, accommodation, food, medications that the children will have to take for 6 months is about US$150,000

Our sincere thanks to Taiwo Stuart-Worrell and Mr. De Flour of Caribbean Airways, The Canadian High Commissioner of Guyana, to the overseas relatives of the patients who contributed towards the cost treatment and all the hardworking volunteers from Toronto, Guyana and India.

Three Rivers Kids Foundation has many sick children on their waiting list. Our next mission is planned for February/March, 2009.Please help us to make this possible by making a donation today.

In two and a half years since their existence, Three Rivers Kids Foundation has successfully helped 46 patients, 42 from Guyana and 4 from India. The President of Three Rivers Kids Foundation, Jeanette Singh who is a registered nurse travels with the children to India and monitor their medical care. "I am in the operating room for long hours and many days to see our children surgeries. All the mothers accompanying their children want me to take photographs of their children's hearts. This is where I feel comfortable and enjoy being with the patients before they get their general anesthesia and also be there when they regain consciousness."

 

MISSION HEARTBEAT - 2008

THREE RIVERS KIDS FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO HELPING THE SICK AND POOR CHILDREN FROM GUYANA. WE HAVE ABOUT 100 SICK CHILDREN ON OUR WAITING LIST, SOME OF THEM NEED URGENT MEDICAL INTERVENTION TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. HOWEVER, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO GET ALL THE CHILDREN TREATED AS SOON AS WE WOULD LIKE.

WE ARE APPEALING TO THE RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THESE CHILDREN WHO LIVE OVERSEAS TO ASSIST THESE CHILDREN GET THE MUCH NEEDED TREATMENT THAT THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED BY CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THEIR MEDICAL EXPENSES AND AIRFARES.

THREE RIVERS KIDS FOUNDATION DOES NOT GET ANY HELP FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH OF GUYANA, FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE NOR FROM THE GUYANA GOVERNMENT. WE WORK EXTREMELY HARD AT DOING FUNDRAISING EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS TO HELP THESE CHILDREN.

SOME PARENTS AND RELATIVES LIVING ABROAD HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO HELP TO RAISE SOME FUNDS, AND AS A RESULT OF NUMEROUS REQUESTS, A COPY OF THE ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF SURGERY FROM THE HOSPITAL IN INDIA HAS BEEN SENT TO THE PARENTS.

THE BOARD MEMBERS OF THREE RIVERS KIDS FOUNDATION UNDERSTANDS THE STRESS THAT THE PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN HAVE TO GO THROUGH. WE DO OUR BEST TO RESPOND TO ALL QUERIES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.  WE ASK FOR YOUR PATIENCE IF WE CANNOT DEAL WITH YOUR QUERY AS QUICKLY AS WE WOULD ALL LIKE.  WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS WITH FULL TIME JOBS AND FAMILIES TO TAKE CARE OF.

 

 

FREE CARDIAC CLINIC IN GUYANA SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 2008

The Three Rivers Kids Foundation has organized a free cardiac clinic to be held in Guyana. The clinic will be conducted by Dr. Viresh Mahajan and Dr. Anil Bhan, both from Delhi, India. The cardiac clinic will be done free of charge. Two days will be designated for the screening of children, and two days will be for adults. The CIOG has been very instrumental in organizing this clinic by meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Health in Guyana and with the Georgetown Public Hospital. For this we are very greatful to the CIOG. After the conclusion of the cardiac clinic, the selection will be made for the next group of children to be treated in India. The goal of this clinic is to prioritize the seriousness of childrens' medical conditions. By having a pediatric cardiologist performing the screening, we will be able determine which children need immediate treatment and which children can wait until a later time. Jeanette Singh had been adamant about this screening process, as in the past the diagnosis made in India is often very different the diagnosis made in Guyana. This screening clinic will prevent these issues and facilitate the selection of children to recieve immediate treatment. Dr. Mahajan and Dr. Bahn will take a tour of the heart institute at the Georgetown Public Hospital with the intention of performing cardiac surgery if it feasible to do so. These surgeries will all be done free of charge, as Dr. Mahajan and Dr. Bahn will be donating their time. This free screening clinic will also give us the opportunity to assess the progress of all the children that Three Rivers Kids Foundation has taken to India for treatment in the past.

 

MISSION HEARTBEAT - JULY 2007

 

Sarah Pasha, 2 years La Grange	Shiraz Ali, 4 years Berbice	Khemlall Persaud, 7 yrs Berbice
Varsha Chatterpaul, 16 m Berbice	Marlon King, 5 years Georgetown	Diana Persaud, 9 years
Lijanna James, 15mths Berbice	Trinity Leslie, 7 yrs Timehri, E.B.D.	Divanie Ramdeen, 3 yrs Berbice

MISSION HEARTBEAT - JULY 2007

HEARTENING NEWS---ANOTHER 9 CHILDREN FROM GUYANA TREATED SUCCCESSFULLY IN INDIA.

6 CHILDREN HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY, ONE CHILD HAD NEUROSURGERY, ONE HAD LIVER SURGERY AND ONE CHILD HAD KIDNEY TREATMENT.

"Have a heart" -- most of us have used this phrase at some point.  But what do you do when that very heart stops working properly?  Especially if you are only 23 months old, there is no treatment available in your homeland and your parents are too poor to afford treatment overseas?  Leave everything to GOD perhaps.  That is exactly what Varsha Cahtterpaul's parents did.  Three Rivers Kids Foundation of Toronto, Canada, in collaboration with the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) came like a blessing in their lives.  Varsha, along with 8 other children flew from Guyana on June 28th/2007 to Max Devki Devi Heart and Vascular Institute in New Delhi, India for medical treatment.

Varsha celebrated her 2nd birthday on July 19th.  The doctors have given Varsha and the 8 other children a unique gift: A new and healthy life.

Six of the nine children had open heart surgeries to correct serious heart defects.  One child had neurosurgery to remove a glioma (tumor) from her right optic nerve in order to save her left vision.  One child had 2 large Mesenchymal hamartomas (liver cysts) removed, and one child had a kidney biopsy done and is now receiving appropriate treatment for steroid induced nephritis.

Of the six cardiac cases, Varsha Chatterpaul was the most difficult.  Varsha had regular bouts of blackouts and would turn blue frequently.  She was suffering from severe left ventricular failure.  Her condition was critical upon arrival to Delhi.  She had to be put on life-support twenty four hours after arriving in Delhi, and had open heart surgery on July 2nd.  Eight days following surgery, Varsha was able to take her first steps with help.  Prior to surgery, she was unable to walk.  

The 5 other children with cardiac problems were suffering from congenital abnormalities and their conditions were also critical.  Ten days following surgeries, all the children were discharged from hospital in good health.  "They will be able to play, run, go to school and do everything that a normal child does."  It's a good feeling.  This gives me immense satisfaction," says Jeanette Singh, a Registered Nurse and President of Three Rivers Kids Foundation who accompanied the children to India.  "I accompanied each child to the operating room and saw all the surgeries being performed."  "Giving innocent and poor children a chance to live normal lives, seeing them recuperate daily, and the smiles on their faces, is really an unforgettable experience.  For me there is no better way to spend my vacation time from my regular job", says Jeanette Singh  

The children that we take from Guyana to India for open heart surgery are in poor medical conditions.  They have enlarged hearts and their lungs do not function properly.   As a result of this they suffer from constant colds and chest infections.  This creates some surgical and post operative challenges, for example their incisions can take longer to heal.  As a result, they are classed as very high risk surgeries.  Most of them should have been treated during the first 6 months of life.  The surgeries are done despite the risks involved because the only other choice these children have is to live a life that is of very poor quality.  They cannot go to school, they cannot play and a simple thing such as a laugh is enough to make them tired and cyanosed (turn blue).  

The child with the Mesenchymal harmartoma was diagnosed at age 5 months, but nothing was done for this child who is now over 3 years.  The cysts were so large that they were causing pressure on the kidneys and other internal abdominal organs.  This cyst would have rupture eventually if left untreated and this child could have died.

The names of the children who went on this life saving mission are:  Marlon King (aged 4),  Khemlall Persaud (aged 7),  Trinity Leslie (aged 3),  Shiraz Alli (aged 4),  Lijanna James (aged 15 months),  Varsha Chatterpaul (aged 2),  Divanie Ramdeen (aged 3), Diana Persaud (aged 5), and Sarah Pasha (aged 3)

Eight children returned to Guyana to begin their new life on July, 26th/2007.  One child is recuperating in London and will return to Guyana soon with her grandparents.

I would sincerely like to thank the wonderful team of doctors and nurses from Max Heart and Vascular institute in Delhi,  especially Dr. Viresh Mahajan, (Paediatric Cardiologist),  Dr Anil Bhan (Cardiac Surgeon),  Dr. Rajesh Sharma (Paediatric Intensivist),  Dr. Sandeep Vaishya (Neuro Surgeon),  Dr. Meera Luttra (General Surgeon) and Dr.  V.K.Aggarwall (Nephrologist).  Special thanks to the nurses from the Intensive Care Unit and the High Dependency Unit.  Dr. Mahajan and Dr. Sharma sacrificed their time off from the hospital and went beyond the call of duty to stay with our children during the critical post operative period.  Dr. Mahajan arranged for all the blood that our children needed for surgery by sending an appeal over the radio station in Delhi asking for donors to come to the hospital and donate blood.   The response was overwhelming.

The cost of the medical treatment for all 9 children was $30,608 CDN.  The cost of the airfares for the children and their mothers were CDN $38,062.  The total cost for the entire trip including accommodation in London and Delhi, transportation, food, medicines etc. was CDN$75,810.  The parents contributed US$10,000 towards their own airfares, the Ministry of Health of Guyana contributed US$2,000 and CIOG contributed US$10,000.

It takes many hands and many hearts to accomplish a mission such as this.  Three Rivers Kids Foundation is very grateful for the assistance and support of Br. Fazeel Ferouz and Fayann from CIOG, Tara Balgobin, Chris Mohan and Pat from Mapleleaf Wheel Chair Company, Richard Aziz from Shabnam Radio.  Heartfelt thanks to our regular sponsors Dave Pahuja, Dr.Gavin Jagan and Indy Singh, each of whom sponsors a child from Guyana every year.  Also, a special thank you to Geeta and family from England for their help in organizing accommodation and food for the group while in London.  And finally, a sincere thank you to everyone who donated time and money towards this mission.

 

SEVEN MORE GUYANESE CHILDREN WERE TREATED IN INDIA IN NOVEMBER,2006

 

Monica Singh, 3yrs Unity, E.C.D.	Ravindra Persaud, 2yrs Essequibo	Safeerah Allicock, 2yrs Essequibo
Shazeena Khan, 8 yrs Cotton Tree, Berbice	Joshua Henry, 2 yrs Ruimveldt	Sherry Ann Martin
Harish Jugistir Berbice

In the past 14 months, from September 2005 to November 2006, through the generosity of Guyanese-Canadians across Canada and the Sikh Community of Toronto, Three Rivers Kids Foundation, a registered charitable organization in Ontario, in collaboration with The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), was able to help 22 children (19 from Guyana and 3 from India) receive medical treatment in India to correct serious heart defects .

The most recent group of seven children from Guyana and one from India were treated in New Delhi in November 2006. Their names are Ravindra Persaud from Essequibo, Safeerah Allicock from Essequibo, Monika Singh from Unity, Cherry Ann Martin from Berbice, Harish Kumar from Berbice, Joshua Henry from Rumveilt, and Shaneeeza Khan from Berbice. The children range in age from 22 months to 13 years. Six of the seven children had open heart surgery to correct serious heart defects. One child had part of his left lung removed, and one child had eye surgery as well as open heart surgery. The child from India whom we assisted was adopted.

The group arrived in Delhi on October 28th, 2006. The children were all admitted to hospital upon arrival. Surgeries commenced on Monday, October 30th. However, two of the surgeries were delayed because one child had a fungal infection of the skin and another child had scabies. These conditions had to be treated first before surgery could be performed. Post operative recovery was uneventful and the last child was discharged from the hospital on Sunday, November 10th. The group returned to Guyana on November 18th, 2006 all in very good health and new leases on life. Three Rivers Kids Foundation supplied all the children with their entire course of medications for the post operative period.

Jeanette Singh a Registered Nurse and President of Three Rivers Kids Foundation accompanied the group to India. She stayed with the group until their return to Guyana.

Safeerah, one of the children in the group, celebrated her 2nd birthday on November 2nd, 2006. This was no ordinary birthday. Safeerah has congenital rubella syndrome and as a result of this developed severe cataracts in both eyes. She could perceive changes in light levels but could see nothing else. Two weeks after having open heart surgery to close a very large ventricular septal defect, Safeerah underwent eye surgery to remove the cataract. It is beyond explanation to describe the feelings and emotions when this child waved at the staff 24 hours after having eye surgery as she was being discharged from hospital. For the first time in her young life, she was able to see.

The cardiac surgeries were performed by peadiatric cardiac surgeon Dr. Anil Bhan and peadiatric cardiologist Dr. Viresh Mahajan. Dr. Meera Luttra did the pneumonectomy and Dr. Sanjay Dhawan did the eye surgery. The children were all treated at Max Devi Devki Heart and Vascular Institute, in Saket, New Delhi. The costs for all eight surgeries were $25,420 Canadian Dollars. The cost of the airfares for the children and their mothers from Georgetown to India was $22,790 Canadian Dollars.

Three Rivers Kids Foundation has many poor and sick children from Guyana who are waiting for much needed treatment. The Foundation is planning to take the next group of children from Guyana to India for treatment in 2007. Dave Pahuja and Indy Singh, both born in Punjab, India and living in Toronto have made a commitment to the Three Rivers Kids Foundation to sponsor one child each from Guyana every year. For our last trip, Mr. Pahuja sponsored Safeerah Alicock, and Mr. Singh paid for part of the airfares for the entire group. The cost for sponsoring a child is about $6,000 Canadian Dollars. This amount will cover the surgical costs and the airfare for the child. The Foundation is appealing to the Guyanese business community across Canada to help us by sponsoring a child a year. Sponsorship can be done individually or as a group.

The Foundation gratefully acknowledges the assistance from BWIA for reducing the cost of the airfares, the British High Commissioner in Guyana for waiving the charges for the UK visas, Dave Pahuja, Indy Singh, Dr. Gavin Jagan, Dolly Sukhdeo from Ottawa, CIOG, Surjit Singh from Air India, Delhi, Faizul Haniff from Comfort Inn, UK, Richard Aziz from Shabnam Radio, Archie from Hawiian Artic, Pandit Lokhnauth Misir from New York, Pandit Bhola Misir and members from Shiva Shankar Bhawan, Pandit Bram Jairam of the Panorama TV Program, G. Prasad of Caribbean Oriental Foods, and to everyone who donated their time and money to make this mission possible. Special thanks to Taiwo Stuart from BWIA and Roy Van Tholl from CIOG, both from Georgetown, Guyana.

For more information about our next mission or to make a donation, please call Jeanette Singh at 905 891 6149 or visit our website at www.threeriverskidsfoundation.org . Donations can be mailed to Three Rivers Kids Foundation, 1531 Kenmuir Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4B6.

The Foundation's inaugural trip to India was made in September 2005. At that time four children from Guyana were taken for treatment. In April 2006, another 10 children were treated. Three Rivers Kids Foundation is proud to announce that in a 13 month span, from September 2005 to October 2006, they would have given a total of 22 children (19 from Guyana and 3 from India) a chance to live normal lives.

Three Rivers Kids Foundation has virtually no administration costs. All its board members are volunteers. There are no expenses such as rent, heating, water, electrical, etc -- this means is that every dollar that is donated to the organization goes directly to helping these children.

The Foundation is appealing to those who have not yet sent in their pledges to kindly do so. All donations should be sent to: Three Rivers Kids Foundation, 1531 Kenmuir Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4B6. Tel: 905 891 6149. There are hundreds of children waiting for our help. Tax receipts will be issued.

 

APRIL 2006 MISSION TO INDIA

NEW LIFE FOR 8 CHILDREN FROM GUYANA

On April 28th 2006, Jeanette Singh, the President of Three Rivers Kids Foundation, a registered charitable organization in Canada accompanied 8 children from Guyana to The Heart Centre in Delhi where they all had open heart surgery. The names of the children are Fiaz Abdul, age 29 months from Stewartville, Diego Poon, age 5 years from Betterhope, Alicia Hookumchand, age 6 years from #41 Village, Berbice, Naline Singh, age 9 years from Mahaica, Shinese Coppin, age 12 years from Georgetown, Imitiaz Ali, age 16 years from Meter-men-zorg, Alana Halloway age 17 years from Bartica and Mark Henry age 17 years from Georgetown. Three Rivers Kids Foundation also paid for two children from Uttar Pradesh, India to have open heart surgery. Their names are Mohammed Tarique, 10 years old and Soni Rahaman age 8 years. The cost for the 10 surgeries, airfares from Georgetown to Delhi for the eight children and their mothers, accommodation and food is US$65,000.

Six of the eight children from Guyana had multiple congenital abnormalities of the heart and Rheumatic Heart Disease. The other two children had Rheumatic Heart disease only. The children who had congenital heart disease suffered from Atrial Septal Defects (ASD), large perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD), Pulmonic and sub pulmonic stenosis and mitral stenosis. One child had what doctors call a "swiss cheese heart". This child had 3 VSD (hole in the heart). Another child had to have a pacemaker inserted. Most of these children should have received surgical correction since early childhood. Failure to do this resulted in serious complications. These children were all failure to thrive, some of them had elevated Pulmonary Artery pressure, and elevated lung pressures.

Three of the children were considered inoperable by another doctor in India because of their complex diagnosis. The President of Three Rivers Kids Foundation, Jeanette Singh did not give up on these children. Instead she sought the opinions of cardiologists in Canada and India. Dr. Khalilullah, of the Heart Centre in Delhi, after detailed consultations with other pediatric cardiac surgeons in Delhi accepted these children from Guyana. In the Western world, it is a common practice for patients to get second opinions regarding their diagnosis and prognosis, and we wanted to make sure that the children from Guyana got the same level of care.

The group arrived in Delhi on April 28th, 2006. All the children had to have cardiac catheterization and angiograms done before surgery. This was necessary to make accurate diagnosis. Jeanette Singh, a Registered Nurse monitored the angiograms and assisted in the operating room for all the surgeries. Post operative recoveries were uneventful. The children returned to Guyana on May 18th. One child remained in India for an extra 10 days because he was not yet well enough to travel with the group. He and his mother returned to Guyana on May 27, 2006. He is in good health. Three Rivers Kids Foundation will continue to monitor their progress and supply them with their medications.

In 2005 Mrs. Jeanette Singh pioneered the establishment of a network of cardiac and other medical professionals across India for the purpose of taking children from Guyana to India for medical treatment. Dr. Cherian of Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai, India was selected for the first mission. In September 2005, Three Rivers Kids Foundation took the first group of four children from Guyana to Chennai, India for open heart surgery. Mrs. Singh said, "This network took many months to setup. It is very gratifying to know that the network I created is now helping adults and children from Guyana access cardiac care in India." Before this network was put in place, very few children or adults from Guyana received treatment to correct heart defects. Mrs. Singh has since expanded the network to include other specialists such as neurologists, plastic surgeons, oncologists in Delhi.

The cost for cardiac surgery in India is substantially lower than Trinidad, Barbados, USA, Canada and UK. For example simple surgeries like Balloon Mitral Valvoplasty costs about $US1,000, Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) and Device closure of Atrail Septal Defects (ASD) costs $US2,500. This price includes the hospital stay as well. Valve replacements cost from US$3,500 to US$4,500 depending upon the type of valve.

Three Rivers Kids Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support and assisstance of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG).

Jeanette Singh, the Board Members of the Foundation and the children would like to express sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to Human Concern International, CIOG, Dr. Gavin Jagan, Maple Leaf Wheelchair Company, Timehri Restaurant, members of Shiva Shankar Bhawan, Richard Aziz of Shabnam Radio, Buddy Singh of West Indian United, Terry Sawh, Shakier Alladin, BWIA, Air India, Dave Pahuja and other individuals from the Punjabi community, Indigostar Software, Faizul from Comfort Inn (London, England) and all the people from Canada, USA and England who donated time and money to make this mission possible. A special thank you to Taiwo Stuart of BWIA, Georgetown.

The Foundation plans to take another group of 10 to 15 children in September, 2006 to India. We will be taking children who have cardiac and other serious medical conditions. The Foundation needs to raise about US$80,000 for their September 2006 Mission. Guyana has hundreds of poor and sick children who need your help. Please mail your donation to Three Rivers Kids Foundation, 1531 Kenmuir Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4B6. For more information please contact Jeanette Singh at 905 891 6149, email: jeanette@threeriverskidsfoundation.org or visit our website www.threeriverskidsfoundation.org .

 

MISSION HEARTBEAT APRIL 2006

April 2006 children

 

Shinese Coppin Age 12 Years Wortmanville, G/town	Mark Henry Age 18 Years Albouystown, G/town	Fiaz Abdul Age 2 Years Stewartville, W.C.D.	Deigo Poon Age 4 Years Betterhope North, E.C.D.
Alicia Hookumchand Age 6 Years #41 Village, W.C.B.	Naline Singh Age 9 Years Mahiaca, E.C.D.	Imtiaz Ali Age 16 Years Meter-Men-Zorg, W.C.D.	Alana Halloway Age 17 Years Bartica
Mohammed Tarique Age 10 Years Uttar Pradesh, India	Soni Rahaman Age 8 Years Uttar Pradesh, India

SEPTEMBER 2005 MISSION TO CHENNAI, INDIA

On September 23rd, 2005, President of Three Rivers Kids Foundation, Jeanette Singh, a Registered Nurse on this inaugural trip took 4 children from Guyana to Chennai, India for corrective heart surgery. Three Rivers Kids Foundation paid $12,000 USD which covered the total cost of all four surgeries. The Ministry of Health in Guyana paid for the airfares.

THE FOUR CHILDREN:

Anjani Pritipaul Age 13 Cornel Ida, Guyana	Casey Clifton Age 9 East La Penitence, Guyana
Preamadai Harrichand Age 12 Sisters Village, Guyana	Romel Mohammed Hasssan Age 4.5 Years Eccles, Guyana

Anjani Pritipaul age 13 years had PARTIAL COR-TRIATRIATUM, OSTIUM SECUNDUM ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT.

Casey Clifton 9 years suffered from a SUB AORTIC VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT (hole in the heart).

Preamadai Harrichand age 12 years had SEVERE PULMONARY VALVULAR ATRESIA, SEVERE INFUNDIBULAR STENOSIS AND SEVERE FIBROTIC RIGHT VENTRICLE.

Romel Mohammed Hassan age 4.5 years had Aortic Stenosis.

The children were treated at The International Centre for Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Diseases in Chennai, India. Upon arrival on Saturday September 24th the children were admitted into hospital. Preoperative investigations started on Sunday September 25th and three children had their operations on September 27th. The other child had his surgery on September 30th.

All 4 children made quick recovery following their surgeries. Two days after their operation the children were walking around without help and were very cheerful. Ten days after surgery, the children were taken on a short shopping trip and also did some sightseeing. The children returned to Guyana on October 17th, all of them in very good health and a chance to live a normal life. Three Rivers Kids Foundation will also continue to monitor the children's progress and supply them with their medications free of charge.

The reason that we chose India is because India offers world class medical care at a very attractive price and has no visa restrictions to access it. Open Heart surgery in North America can cost between $60,000 to $100,000 each. At this price we could barely afford to treat one child a year if we had to bring them to North America for treatment. In India it is possible to treat 25 children for $100,000. Guyana has hundreds of children who are in need of heart surgery. These children will be unable to live a normal life if they do not receive treatment.

In March 2006, Three Rivers Kids Foundation hopes to take 10 to 15 children to India for surgery. Please help us to make this possible and give the sick children of Guyana a chance to have normal lives. Guyana does not have the medical specialists, in particular there are no cardiologists or cardiac surgeons. These children depend on us because there is no one else to help them. Please make a donation. Tax deductible receipt will be issued. For more information please call Jeanette Singh at 905 891 6149.

We hope the day will come when no child will have to suffer, no child dies needlessly and when every child is healthy.

Three Rivers Kids Foundation and the four children would like to sincerely thank all those who contributed towards this mission including our Sept 2005 sponsor Bernardo Funeral Home.

Medical Team from Chennai, India

IMAGES

Below are a selection of images showing some of the children we have helped.

At 9 years old, Parbattee, from Enmore suffers from permanent disability. The wheelchair in the picture was donated in May,2004.	Above is one of two 9 year old twins named Nandani and Nandishari Hansraj from Canal No. 1. This wheelchair was donated in May 2004.
In March 2004 we supplied a wheelchair to an 11-year-old boy named Manoj, who suffered from severe physical disability. He suffered from these severe disabilities because of a fall when he was a baby. He apparently fell of the bed and was not treated. His father is a fisherman and mother a housewife. To move about, his father takes him out on his shoulders. His mother can no longer lift him. When his father is out at sea, he cannot go out anywhere, and is forced to drag himself on his stomach.	We also supplied a wheelchair to a 9-year-old girl named Sarika with cerebral palsy. She had never been out her home, and her parents are seperated. Her mother has 6 children. She kept the 11-year-old at home so that she could take care of Sarika, thus enabling the mother to go to work. Now with the aid of the wheelchair, this child is taken to a baby sitter and the 11-year-old can go to school.