He’ll travel any distance for daughter’s heart

There are no limits and boundaries when it comes to a father’s love for his daughter, especially when she needs serious medical surgery to save her life.

Mark Whippy travelled over 90 kilometres from his hometown in Levuka with his 12-year-old daughter, Deborah Whippy, for life-saving surgery.

He said they were fortunate to be offered the free-of-charge surgery by a surgical team from Mumbai, India, at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital in Suva.

He said his daughter was diagnosed with a heart problem after undergoing a heart echocardiogram when she was two.

“The doctors told me that there was something like a hole in her heart and she would need surgery,” the emotional dad said.

“We were referred to this hospital and after a few interviews we were informed there was a group of medical surgeons flying into the country in January and we made the list,” he said.

Deborah, a Year 7 student of Bureta Primary School on Ovalau, wore a big smile when she was discharged last Saturday. She underwent surgery last Wednesday morning.

“I am very grateful that this hospital is doing this surgery and free-of-charge for the children here in Fiji.

“I am happy that Deborah successfully made it out of surgery and in six weeks after she’s recovered, we will go back to Levuka.”

Mr Whippy urged parents and guardians to get their children screened at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital.