Early Life and Health Challenges
- Hemalatha Rao was born in Bangalore on December 19, 1974. 1m17s
- At the age of three, she was diagnosed with PDA (patent ductus arteriosis), a hole in the heart, and underwent surgery to correct it. 1m27s
- In 1990 or 1992, Rao was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension and Eisenmenger's syndrome, conditions caused by the hole in her heart. 3m50s
Further Health Complications
- In 2000, Rao experienced a pulmonary embolism while at a team outing and was subsequently put on oxygen. 6m40s
- After experiencing a positive period in her life, her husband was diagnosed with delayed onset spinal tuberculosis, leading to paralysis. 11m34s
- After returning to India, she began experiencing a loss of sensation in her left pinky finger, which later spread to her lip and other body parts. 12m45s
- Doctors diagnosed her with autoimmune peripheral neuropathy, a condition where her immune system attacks her peripheral nerves, impacting her balance, sensation, and coordination. 13m22s
Overcoming Adversity
- Hemalatha Rao continued giving motivational talks after facing health adversities, even when medication for neuropathy began to negatively impact her heart. 15m17s
- Rao underwent a successful heart and double-lung transplant in 2021, with organs from a young donor in Jaipur. 18m38s
- Following a post-transplant complication involving blood clots, Rao had a second surgery, recovered well, and returned to work as a business analyst and technical writer. 20m29s
