About Baby Sidharth

Sidharth, born prematurely at 30-weeks (June 6, 2005), weighed less than 1250 grams at birth. He was kept in the incubator for two months for his fragile lungs, heart and digestive system to develop. In October 2005, when he was four months old, an ominous eye condition threatened permanent blindness. Like thousands of other preemies every year, he developed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which occurs when blood vessels grow out of control over the retina, causing scarring and retinal detachment. Unfortunately, baby Sidharth’s doctor didn’t detect the condition early on and this has resulted in completed detachment of the retina in his both eyes.

Sidharth is at a crucial juncture in life where he has only one chance for getting his eyes operated so as to restore at least ambulatory vision. His parents Shridhar and Vinaya are trying hard to save their son from becoming completely blind. Sidharth was taken to Sankara Nethralaya, Madras and Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, in India. Since he is in stage-5 ROP, the doctors have recommended that he be taken to the world renowed ROP specialist, Dr. Michael Tresse, associated with William Beaumont Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Dr. Micheal Tresse is one of the world's leading and most prolific eye surgeons, specializing in retina, macula, and vitreous surgery. Dr. Tresse has performed several thousands vitrectomies over the past 28 years.

The estimated cost provided by the William Beaumont Hospital is $36,000 to $40,000 USD. This cost includes the physician and hospital expenses.

The initial eye exam is schedule on December 6, 2005. If surgery is performed, it will be done on December 9th for the first eye and December 12th for the second one.

Unfortunately due to the sensitivity of the case, we don't have much time. We are in a race against all odds to raise this exorbitant amount of money in less than three weeks!