Q: Isn’t $3,000 for helping one child exorbitant, when so many thousands are starving and have other health problems?
A: A paradox I struggle with every day is one of appropriate allocation of limited healthcare resources. Thankfully, I’m not an administrator charged with those decisions - they are not easy.
If there were only $XYZ to go around, then one must necessarily decide where it should be deployed and why. As far as I am concerned, the decision is much less complex.
I’m a heart surgeon. I treat sick children. Many of them need surgery to help them enjoy normal, healthy lives. Without it, most will not survive or have crippling complications. Most families cannot afford the cost of treatment. So I have decided to help them.
Why? Because it is something I can do.
Is congenital heart disease a ‘more important’ issue than any other? I’m not saying it is - but am making it MY most important issue, and asking you to help fight it.
If your preference is to focus on solving another social problem, then go for it… there’s enough to keep us all busy for years!
I help out with many other charities. One of them feeds close to 1 million children every day! The ‘cost per child’ is certainly less than $3,000 - but comparing the two is an ‘apples with oranges’ contrast.
My good friends are involved with so many wonderful causes. Beth Kanter helps Cambodian children have a good education. Roger Carr helps the arthritis foundation. Frank McKinney builds houses for the homeless in Haiti.
All these efforts are important in solving serious problems.
My focus is on helping children born with heart defects. Treating them costs around $3,000. Raising that amount is my top priority - so that a child will live.
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Oh, and if you can, please make a small donation to the Dr.Mani Children Heart Foundation and help a heart kid live! Click here to donate now.
