By Belinda Nolan
A KINGS Park family is hoping to unite the Brimbank community in a desperate bid to save the life of their critically ill cousin.
Just a few months ago Fijian Ashwin Naidu had everything going for him.
A promising soccer player, the young man was fit, athletic and was engaged to be married.
But a sudden fall on the soccer field paved the way for a devastating diagnosis that would turn his life upside down.
The 25-year-old was diagnosed with heart failure, a condition which left untreated, threatens to rob him of his life before it has barely begun.
Despite the severity of his condition, lack of money and a chronic shortage of doctors in Fiji means it could be years before Ashwin receives the proper treatment – years he does not have.
But his Australian family has come to his rescue and is doing everything in its power to save him.
Kings Park resident Anil Naidu is calling on the Brimbank community to come to the family’s aid by donating money to bring Ashwin to Melbourne for treatment.
The family is organising a dinner dance next month and is hoping to raise tens of thousands of dollars to give their young cousin a fighting chance at life.
Mr Naidu said he was still reeling from the diagnosis which was a devastating blow to his family.
“We still don’t understand how this could happen,” Mr Naidu said.
“He was so young and healthy. When he fell we thought it must be some kind of heat stroke.
“Now all of a sudden we’re having to face the prospect of losing him.”
Mr Naidu and his siblings have already chipped in thousands of dollars to pay for private doctors appointments in Fiji but fear the country’s struggling health system is inadequate to care for their cousin’s condition.
Months after the initial diagnosis, they are still waiting to get the full picture of their cousin’s condition.
And patients can be forced to wait up to a year for an angiogram.
“The health system in Fiji is not the best,” Mr Naidu said.
“We know he’s got heart failure but we still don’t know which artery is blocked and what needs to be done for his treatment.
Every day the family is distraught by news of their cousin’s deteriorating health.
“He can hardly move and is having trouble breathing,” Mr Naidu said.
“There’s a build up of fluid so his whole body is swollen.
“He’s in very bad shape and it is killing us to know that he is languishing away in Fiji when he could be getting treated properly in Australia.”
The family is calling on Brimbank residents to chip in to help save Ashwin’s life.
The group is holding a dinner dance on 4 December at St Bernadette’s Church in Sunshine.
All proceeds will go towards Ashwin’s treatment.
Tickets cost $15/$35. Anyone wishing to book, or to donate towards the cause can call 0424 982 156.
