Earlier this year, the nation came to know the name of an eight-year-old girl who urgently required funds to undergo heart surgery.
Harsheeta Sai’s case captivated Malaysians, who very quickly rallied to raise the money. She underwent the procedure, but sadly passed away on June 6.
Now, her legacy lives on through the Purple Heart Movement. Founded by her uncle, Sivanesan Ramdass, the initiative supports those facing medical challenges and in need of financial aid – just like Harsheeta.
“When Harsheeta was born, she was diagnosed with a very rare heart condition,” Sivanesan, 30, told FMT Lifestyle.
Born with only half a heart, Harsheeta required multiple open-heart surgeries throughout her life. Her last procedure required her to go to Boston – and came at the cost of a whopping RM1.5 million.
Faced with the massive sum, her family turned to crowdfunding. “We started out by reaching out to people on WhatsApp and circulating a poster,” Sivanesan recalled.
When their efforts hit a roadblock, Sivanesan, a digital creator and filmmaker, turned to what he knew best. Using his Instagram platform, he posted a video explaining Harsheeta’s situation.
That clip quickly racked up over 800,000 views and made headlines nationwide.
“The response was astonishing. We received many calls and messages, from unknown strangers, who were willing to donate thousands for this one kid,” he said.
Some supporters even sold their prized possessions like vintage bikes to help raise the funds.
“Almost every day, the whole family would receive lots of pictures of parents going to churches, mosques and temples, saying, ‘We’re praying for your kid, she will be fine, don’t be worried.’”
Within a month, they managed to raise half their target. Harsheeta’s story even reached Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who stepped in with support.
By April, she was on her way to Boston. Alas, athough the surgery was done, Harsheeta passed away from multiple organ failure and sepsis.
‘Social media has that power’
His niece may no longer be here, but Sivanesan still views the fundraising a success as it connected him with many compassionate individuals.
“The moment she was admitted at Boston’s Children’s Hospital, I received texts from the nurses there saying, ‘I am from Malaysia, working here. Do you need me to do anything for your kid?’
“Social media has that power,” he said.
And while Harsheeta’s parents are still grieving, Sivanesan said they have made it clear her legacy must continue. “They keep saying that we need to do something for the people, to say thank you.”
With this in mind, he has decided to use his platform and skills to amplify the stories of those who face similar challenges.
“I am not helping people raise funds, I am simply helping them tell other people that they need funds. There is a difference,” Sivanesan stressed.
His process is simple: people reach out to him, he reviews their case and financial situation to assess their authenticity, and then posts a video with full transparency, like he had done for Harsheeta.
The funds go directly to the person in need, with Sivanesan serving as just the “voice”.
One of the individuals he has helped is Seeran Selvaraju, a fellow creative who was diagnosed with septic arthritis and later osteomyelitis. Through his initiative, Sivanesan helped raise RM6,000 to support his recovery.
“We are so used to not asking for help because we feel embarrassed. But that shouldn’t be the case,” Sivanesan said in reflection.
Through it all, Sivanesan, who was more like a best friend to Harsheeta than an uncle, continues to carry her spirit with him.
“She is the torchbearer of the whole movement,” he said, explaining that it is called the Purple Heart Movement as purple was Harsheeta’s favourite colour, and “the one very heart-wrenching, beautiful fact is that her heart was the last organ to function”.
Sivanesan concluded that through his movement, he aims to help anyone in need, regardless of their background, race, age, or the amount of funds required.
“Long term, I want people to join the movement, even if it’s not my specific movement. I want people to embrace the ideology of talking about people who need help and helping with their voices, because it makes a difference.”
Follow Sivanesan Ramdass on Instagram, and also take a look back on Harsheeta’s journey here.
