Sunil Gavaskar’s birthday wish: Save children suffering from congenital heart disease

There cannot be a bigger blessing than a second shot at a healthy life for children born with congenital heart disease, feels the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, whose biggest pledge on his 72nd birthday is to bring smiles on those cute little faces.

Gavaskar’s ‘Heart to Heart’ foundation has been working with Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals for the past few years, and almost 16,000 surgeries have been performed “free of cost”, with a “success rate of 99 percent”.

“The Heart to Heart foundation was set up a few years back to create awareness about the issue of children born with congenital heart defects and to raise funds which help in the children getting treated without having to pay anything,” Gavaskar told PTI on his birthday.

Asked what led him to form a foundation to help children with CHD, the ‘Little Master’ said: “There are more than 300000 children born in India with CHD and almost a third of them don’t live to see their next birthday.

“The foundation is collaborating with the three Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals, one in New Raipur, Chhattisgarh, another in Palwal, Haryana and the third in Kharghar, New Mumbai where the children are treated. These hospitals perform surgeries and cath interventions totally free of cost to the child and the parents,” Gavaskar said.

The batting great informed that nearly 400 surgeries are performed every month.

“The hospitals currently do around 400 surgeries a month. Under the mother and child health care programme, we have covered around 95000 mothers and their babies so far,” said Gavaskar.

To the man who first scaled the 10,000 Test runs mountain and a living legend who set the benchmark for what Indian batsman could do, an inspiration for many cricketers of our generation. Happy Birthday, Sunny bhai!#SunilGavaskar pic.twitter.com/Fq9afWKmgd

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 10, 2021

Happy birthday to the legend Sunny bhai. You have been an inspiration to many! Wishing you good health and happiness always. 😇

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) July 10, 2021

When #Sunnybhai speaks, everyone listens. When we speak, he listens as if he has so much to learn. Such humility …#happybirthdaysunilgavaskar sir who taught us the meaning of courage in sports by his deeds and not through the words. pic.twitter.com/9ShryOslID

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) July 10, 2021

A happy birthday to The Original little master Sunny Bhai forever an epitome of courage and determination #SunilGavaskar pic.twitter.com/bfEH9Kme7i

— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) July 10, 2021

My best wishes to the legend of Indian Cricket. You have been an inspiration for every budding cricketer, without you the cricket wouldn’t be the same! Stay blessed with good health! #happybirthdaysunilgavaskar

— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) July 10, 2021

Happy Birthday Gavaskar Sir.
Wishing you a year full of good health and happiness. pic.twitter.com/LMyzkbOrDT

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 10, 2021

Happy birthday sir #SunilGavaskar wish you great health and happiness 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/qycTX199Ww

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) July 10, 2021

Happy Birthday to the evergreen #legend of #IndianCricket. The sheer courage you showed while facing the ‘express’ fast bowlers in such difficult wickets without helmet, will always remain unmatched. 🏏🇮🇳
Happy Birthday #SunilGavaskar Sir! Stay Happy & healthy!#happybirthday pic.twitter.com/dl83eXY4eg

— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) July 10, 2021

Chal Phut. This is what the great #SunilGavaskar said to bowlers trying their best to get him out.
Happy Birthday to the legend, Sunny Bhai. Aise hi fodte rahiye :) pic.twitter.com/6H54N9wunF

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 10, 2021

Many more happy returns of the day to my childhood hero and inspiration, Sunil Gavaskar.
He instilled courage and belief in many young Indian batsmen to face the best bowlers in the world fearlessly. Have a great day and year ahead, Sunny Bhai ! pic.twitter.com/QqfWTHYR90

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 10, 2021

Wimble-Done ✅#Wimbledon #Wimbledon2021 pic.twitter.com/RBgnXU6i0N

— DK (@DineshKarthik) July 9, 2021

A master of analogies, Gavaskar said that a “second life” was also important in his cricket career, just like it has been for these children.

“After a successful surgery the child goes on to lead a normal healthy life . It’s a second life for them. This getting another life aspect resonates with me because I got a ‘cricketing life’ when, in my debut Test match, no less a cricketer than Sir Garfield Sobers dropped an easy catch when I was batting on 12.

“I went on to get a half-century and then kept my place in the Indian team for the next 17 years.”

Asked about his birthday wish, Gavaskar said he is hoping for involvement of more and more people to do their bit in saving lives.

“My fervent wish on my birthday is for more people to help and join in saving children’s lives. They can go online on Get Involved Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital and get more information. At these hospitals, there is ‘only dil, no bill,” he concluded.