ALUVA: Bindu, wife of Sreekumar, resident of Vattiyoorkavu, Thiruvananthapuram, underwent a valve replacement surgery costing seven lakh rupees free of charge at Aluva Rajagiri Hospital through the 'Hridhyam' charity project initiated by superstar Mammootty. The entire cost was borne by the hospital authorities. The 'Hridhyam' project is being implemented by the charity organization Care and Share International and Rajagiri Hospital.

Sreekumar's wife also fell ill as he was returning to normal life from a stroke that left him paralyzed on one side. Bindu was admitted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College due to suffocation and wheezing. Leakage and narrowing of the heart valve was detected. There was no other option but to replace the valve.

Sreekumar, who could not even go for painting jobs after the stroke, was unable to make money.

They met former minister Jose Thettayil through an acquaintance, Adv Anil V Nagendran, a native of Valiyavila. Jose Thettayil informed Mammootty who was his junior at Law College. Following this, Bindu was included in the Hridhyam project.

The surgery was supervised by Dr Shiv K Nair. Bindu returned home last day. Bindu said that he is indebted to Mammootty and Aluva Rajagiri Hospital.

Poor relying on Hridhyam

Care and Share International Foundation Chairman K Muraleedharan said that many patients have been able to undergo surgery free of cost and about 50 patients have undergone surgery at low cost as part of the Hridhyam project, which started on May 25, 2022. Fr Johnson Vazhappilly, Executive Director and CEO of the hospital, said that they were happy to collaborate with Mammootty in his philanthropic activities.