OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2012 - Parkway Pantai

31love knows no boundariesThe other pressing concern facing the Pereras wasidentifying the best donor for Hesith. Unfortunately, hisfather, Mr Kamal Perera was not a suitable match dueto his blood type and heart bypass surgery eight yearsago. Although there were many Sri Lankan volunteers,Thushara was found to be a perfect match.“I’ve done tests back in Sri Lanka and here inSingapore, confirming that my kidney was a match forHesith,” said Thushara. “I felt I was the best choice asI am his mother, and gave my kidney to him with allmy blessings.“When we came to MEH for our tests, we found theenvironment here very different from Sri Lanka’shospitals. In Sri Lanka, we would normally see a lot ofsick patients around, with nurses running about anddrawing blood from them for all to see. Hesith found allthis too frantic and frightening. Here at MEH, it’s nothinglike that. The friendly and professional medical workersgave us assurance, reaffirming our faith and trust thatthe operation would go well for us both.”To this, Hesith nodded and chimed in, “It’s very safe forme here, not painful at all!”The young, courageous boy did not look in the least bitdefeated by the cards life had dealt him. Perhaps it wasbecause he is dearly loved by his parents and thosearound him, like his family’s neighbour ofnine years Ms Nilanthi Dilrukshi, who had flownall the way from Sri Lanka to be with them duringthe operation.When Hesith first gained consciousness after thesurgery, his very first words were, “How is my mama?”There was no mention of any pain that he might havebeen feeling — just a simple expression of a youngboy’s love and appreciation for his mother, who hadunconditionally given her own left kidney to replace herprecious child’s right one.a new beginningThe surgery was a success. Hesith and his motherhave since returned to Sri Lanka and are bothrecovering well.from left: Kamal, Hesith & Thushara Perera, Nilanthi Dilrukshi