BELAGAVI: Living up to the saying ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’, a man in Belagavi sold a piece of land he owned to help his friend of 35 years bear the cost of a liver transplant that he underwent about six weeks ago.
Sandeep Muchandi (47), a resident of Belagavi, was suffering from a severe liver-related ailment for a long time and was advised by his doctor to undergo a transplant at the earliest. But Mulchandi, who gets a pittance by working in the bicycle repair shop at Bazaar Galli here had lost all hopes of availing further treatment.
The one who did not give up was his employer Babulal Pathan (62), a resident of Vishnu Galli. He had determined to go to any extent and stand by Sandeep. He sold off his 1.5 guntas of land and raised Rs 22 lakh for the transplant while Sandeep’s family managed to chip in with Rs 6 lakh. The liver transplant was finally done at the Apollo Hospital in Mumbai last month.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, Babulal Pathan said, “I was ready to go to any extent to help Sandeep. My only ambition was to save him. I even thought of asking my son to donate the liver to Sandeep but decided to arrange money when the doctors found out that the organs do not match.”
Pathan said that he spoke to the doctors in Mumbai about their struggle to raise money for the transplant after which the hospital authorities reduced the bill by Rs 4 lakh as a goodwill gesture.
Babulal, who is known for his friendly and helpful nature in the locality, says he has the full support of his family in his endeavours.
Meanwhile, Sandeep has been recuperating in a Mumbai hospital where he was admitted into for routine medical check up . His condition is normal. Sandeep has been married for the last seven years.