PENANG, Thurs: Three-year-old Hasvinii Balakrishnan is looking forward to Deepavali this year, having been in too much pain to enjoy the festival last year.

The Penang Council of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam and the Penang Adventist Hospital chipped in to pay for her surgery for pulmonary hypertension on Oct 2.

The sangam contributed RM5,735.19 towards the RM10,000 hospital bill, and the balance was covered by the hospitals Heart Patient’s Fund.

The sangam’s state council treasurer, P. Mohan Pillai, handed over the cheque to Lim Chooi Eng of the Fund at a press conference at the hospital on Tuesday.

Hasvinii’s parents, M.Balakrishnan and S. Sarala, were also present at the event.

Balakrishnan thanked the sangam, the hospital, and the public for their donations.

The sangam’s state council welfare committee chairman, P. Murugiah, said it received RM1,965 from the public while the balance came from its medical find.

He said the sangam has helped in 13 similar cases and also runs free medical services with eight doctors and several nursing staff, among other projects.

Murugiah urged those needing help to call him at 016-4449246.

Lim said the hospital has, since1998, donated RM2.3 million for the 219 heart surgery cases, of which 111 cases involved children.

She appealed to the public to help the less fortunate by donating to the fund.

Donation can be sent to the Heart Patient’s Fund, Penang Adventist Hospital, 465 Jalan Burma, 10350 Penang.

For details, call Lim at 04-2261133 ext 1255 or Rachel Phoon at ext 1259.