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Long-term Medication for Tharindu

Tharindu Hasanga was presented to us in February 2005 at our Children’s clinic in the Mawella camp in southern Sri Lanka by one of his teachers at the Seenimodara Junior School in Tangalle. Tharindu was a 13-year-old boy at that time, suffering from Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH). Sadly, he had lost his mother, Malani Muthumala, in the tsunami, and his father, M.P. Chandana, a fisherman, was beside himself with grief over his loss. Tharindu’s aunt, Ginta Muthumala, had taken on guardianship for him.

FYI: Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder that causes severe elevations in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc). The total and LDLc levels of infants and children with homozygous FH are higher than 600 mg/dL. This leads to plaque deposition in the endothelium of coronary arteries and to premature coronary artery disease. Early corneal arcus is frequent as well as valvular abnormalities, most frequently aortic stenosis. Severe and widespread atherosclerosis can affect all major arterial beds, including the carotid, coronary, femoral, and iliac. Children are at risk for extremely early coronary events. Sudden death or acute myocardial infarction may occur in patients as young as 1-2 years. Without heroic interventions to lower blood cholesterol levels, survival beyond young adulthood is unlikely. Cholesterol also accumulates in other areas, particularly the skin, causing xanthelasmas and a variety of xanthomas. Planar, tendon, and tuberous xanthomas are present early in childhood and sometimes at birth. These patients commonly have symptoms consistent with ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, or aortic stenosis. Patients may have articular symptoms such as tendonitis or arthralgias.

Real Medicine decided to support Tharindu’s medical treatment with lipid lowering drugs. His treatment is overseen by Prof. Sujeewa Amaresena, the Head of the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Ruhuna in Galle, who generously offered his support.

Update July 20,2008
By Michael Lear

Tharindu has been receiving support and treatment from Real Medicine for 3 years now, for his condition, Familial Hypercholesterolemia, an autosomal dominant disorder that causes severe elevations in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc). Dr. Martina Fuchs met Tharindu shortly after the Tsunami in which he sadly lost his mother, Malani Muthumala, and his father, M.P. Chandana, a fisherman. Tharindu’s aunt, Ginta Muthumala, had taken on guardianship for him. Now 16 years old, Tharindu enjoys good health, performs well in school and looks to his future with confidence.

Translation of Tharindu’s Letter.
2008.07.12
M.P.Tharindu Hasanga , Pol Aththara, Nakulugamuwa.
JESUS BLESSINGS !

Dear Mr.Michael,
How are you keeping? From your help I am keeping fine. I Thank you very much for all the contribution that you are doing to me. If this help is not there I would not have the Chance to Study. I give my Thanks again to you and I stop for now.

MY BEST WISHES TO YOU! THARINDU

Update January 28,2007
By Minerva Fernando in Sri Lanka

Tharindu Hasanga is an active boy. He is fifteen years old now. He goes to Seenimodara Junior School in Tangalle in Hambantota District. He lost his mother in the tsunami of December 2004, and now he and his only sister live with his aunt, Mrs. Jenita Muthumala. After this sad incident, Tharindu's aunt takes good care of Tharindu, because his father had married again.

Tharindu is in tenth grade. He does his studies well. He likes to play with other school boys. He now, with the treatment, feels much better and not as tired anymore as he did before we started his treatment. He loves to ride his bicycle. That is one of his favorite hobbies. He is very happy to do that.

His most recent blood report is from January 2007. And he had gone to the clinic for his medical treatment on the 19th of December. The clinic at Karapitiya in Galle always issues his medicine for two months. Prof. Sujeewa Amarasena, the head of the Department for Pediatrics, oversees Tharindu's treatment. His treatment is very expensive. Tharindu's family is too poor to bear those expenses. Thanks to Real Medicine Foundation, Tharindu receives treatment.

The two kinds of tablets include a vitamin tablet, which he has to take in the morning after his breakfast. The second one controls his cholesterol level, he has to take this one at night after dinner. Tharindu does not miss his medicine. He had many visible fat deposits. Now they are disappearing. Special food is prepared by his aunt for Tharindu without using coconut milk. He likes to eat Dhal Curry very much. For lunch everyday, he has this Curry. The food parcel he receives from Real Medicine Foundation provides most of the food he needs for the month. It includes Dhal, many kinds of grains, and fruits and vegetables.

Long-term Medication for Tharindu
October 2006

By Minerva Fernando and Dr. Martina Fuchs


Tharindu Hasanga is now visiting 9th grade at Seenimodara Junior School in Tangalle. He is very active and creative and gets good grades. The handicraft on the photo below, a living room decoration was created by him.

Tharindu continues to do well under the treatment with lipid lowering drugs. His aunt and guardian, Ginta Muthumala takes him to the clinic at Karapitiya Hospital in Galle once per month to see Prof. Sujeewa Amarasena, the Head of the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Ruhuna in Galle, who oversees his treatment. Prof. Amarasena provides his lab results to Real Medicine on a regular basis.

We decided to support Tharindu's family, who is extremely poor, in providing additional food for Tharindu to supplement his medical treatment in the most effective way.

Thank you very much to our generous donors, who are making sure that Tharindu's treatment will be taken care of for the next years to come! We will keep you posted on his progress.

February 2005 – April 2006

Tharindu is visiting the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle every month with his aunt and the Navaloka Hospital in Colombo every three months to guarantee the most effective treatment possible.

Here is Tharindu in March 2006, 14 years old, doing well under treatment, and growing into a tall young man:

Minerva Fernando, who oversees Real Medicine’s projects from our office in southern Sri Lanka, helps to coordinate Tharindu’s visits at the hospitals in Galle and Colombo, and his treatment with Crestor 10mg daily and Vit. E & C.

Tharindu’s medication costs are about $50/month. Your support his highly appreciated!