TAVI Success Fuels Patient's Renewed Passion For Community Service

by CYRUS NISBAN, GILLIAN LIM

Meet the resillient 86-year-old, Mr Arnasalam S/O Muniandy, who recently triumphed over his bouts of painful breathlessness with a little help from the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure.

For the past two to three years, Mr Arnasalam had been facing challenges whenever he took a stroll, landing him in the hospital multiple times. Eventually, at a regular medical check-up, doctors discovered that his breathlessness was due to severe aortic stenosis. This prompted the need for a TAVI procedure to prevent future complications as the disease progression could lead to future fainting episodes, heart attack and death.

Mr Arnasalam and his wife Mdm Seetha D/O Manikam, both retirees, were initially concerned about the cost of the procedure. Mdm Seetha shared, “Whether we could afford (the procedure) or not, it was something we had to do.” Hence, they sought the help of their medical social worker to appeal for subsidies.

It was a relief for Mr Arnasalam as his TAVI procedure was a success and his condition quickly improved. His worries about the procedure’s cost were also alleviated by the partial subsidy provided by the Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF)’s Heart Support Fund.

Since his recovery, Mr Arnasalam has settled into a daily routine which includes waking up as early as 5.30am for a short walk to the temple near his home and back – a walk which he could not enjoy previously. Mr Arnasalam’s return to a more holistic lifestyle is further supported by his wife and their helper, who take turns to care for him.

Despite her frailty and weakened mobility due to a spine and foot surgery, Mdm Seetha, along with the couple’s helper, prepares home-cooked meals with “less oil, less salt” and Basmati rice. They assist Mr Arnasalam with using the washroom when needed and prepare his medication, which helps manage his other health conditions including high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Mr Arnasalam also shared that, thanks to the procedure, he can continue his work as a Grassroots leader, a role he has held for over 40 years. He remains an active member of the Indian Cultural Group, enjoying fundraising and organising events for the community, as well as catching up with friends during their monthly meetings.

Make a donation to the Singapore Heart Foundation to help beneficiaries like Mr Arnasalam. Your donation will provide financial aid for underprivileged heart patients, support SHF’s operations, provide highly subsidised cardiac rehabilitation and more.