Mahesh was discharged on his birthday Mahesh Choragasti, 14, suffered from multiple ailments, including Covid pneumonia, diphtheria and complete heart block, and was in the hospital for two months. His family struggled to meet the medical expenses but, to their relief, the hospital waived charges for the second month. His mother Ansubai Choragasti told STOI he fell at home two months after feeling uneasy. “We took him to Dr Bidari’s Ashwini Hospital and after conducting tests, doctors said he had a heart condition and started the treatment.” Ansubai is an agricultural labourer from Padaganur village and stays with her three sons and a daughter at the home of her brothers Saibanna Kotaragasti and Ramu Kotaragasti. She has been living apart from her husband for about eight years. Saibanna said they spent Rs 1 lakh for treatment in the first month. “We saw little for his survival and as we couldn’t afford further treatment, wanted to get him discharged. However, doctors said they would bear his hospital expenses and cost of medicines. When Mahesh recovered on July 14, his birthday, they celebrated by distributing cake to everybody,” he added.