When Gajanan was just 30 days old, tragedy struck his family in Morgaon village, Beed. His father, a farmer, died suddenly in his sleep in 2018. Earlier, in 2015, Anita, Gajanan’s mother, had already endured the devastating loss of her 8-year-old son, who also passed away unexpectedly during sleep.
Sadly, the heartbreak did not end there. When Gajanan turned three, his five-year-old sister died in a similar manner, again during sleep. These repeated tragedies left Anita, now 30 years old, desperate for answers.
Warning Signs Lead to a Critical Diagnosis
When Gajanan began showing alarming symptoms like frequent fevers and breathlessness, Anita rushed him to Beed city. Doctors there referred her to Holy Family Hospital in Bandra, where the mystery finally unraveled.
Dr. Yash Lokhandwala, a cardiologist specializing in heart rhythm disturbances, studied Gajanan’s irregular heartbeat and family history. He diagnosed the child with Congenital Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), a rare disorder that prolongs part of the heart’s electrical cycle. This condition can cause fainting spells and, in severe cases, sudden death.
Understanding Long QT Syndrome
The heart operates through an intricate electrical system that generates signals, prompting muscle contractions to pump blood. In a healthy individual, an ECG (electrocardiogram) shows a consistent rhythm. However, in people with LQTS, the QT interval on the ECG is abnormally prolonged, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias.
Dr. Lokhandwala explained that LQTS often has a genetic basis, and it was likely that Gajanan’s father was a carrier of the disorder. “It is most likely the family members died because of this undiagnosed abnormality,” he noted.
Globally, congenital LQTS affects about 1 in 2,000 people, making it a rare but serious condition.
Life-Saving Surgery Offers New Hope
Faced with Gajanan’s critical condition, doctors performed a cardiac sympathetic denervation on February 25. This minimally invasive surgery involves severing specific sympathetic nerves along the spine that connect to the heart, reducing its sensitivity to adrenaline and preventing dangerous arrhythmias.
“The only treatment options for LQTS are either implanting a pacemaker-like device or performing a sympathectomy,” said Dr. Ashwin Mehta, senior cardiologist at Jaslok Hospital.
As reported by TOI, the procedure typically costs between Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. Given Anita’s financial struggles, the hospital raised the necessary funds through private donations.
The Importance of Early Detection
Experts emphasize the need for early screening. Dr. Dhiraj Kumar, associate professor at KEM Hospital’s cardiology department, pointed out,
“Long QT Syndrome is often under-recognized because physicians may overlook the QT interval. It is crucial that patients experiencing unexplained unconsciousness or seizures undergo an ECG test to check for LQTS.”
A Bright Future for Gajanan
Gajanan was discharged on March 1. Follow-up evaluations revealed that he is healing well and has joyfully returned to playing with his friends.
“We were willing to travel as far as needed to save Gajanan,” said Anita’s brother Sujit, reflecting the family’s relentless determination.
Today, Gajanan’s recovery brings renewed hope to his family — and serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of awareness and timely intervention in battling rare heart disorders.