Heart Valve Replacement in India: Lennii's Story

By Suryani Dutta

Fifteen-year-old Lennii from Vanuatu travelled to Medanta, India, for AVR and MVR surgery for rheumatic heart disease under the care of Dr. Anil Bhan. Read her story.

Patient's Name: Lennii Darusilla Trinity Rezel

Age: 15 years

Gender: Female

Country of Origin: Vanuatu

Doctor's Name: Dr. Anil Bhan

Hospital: Medanta - The Medicity, Gurugram, India

Treatment: Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) and Mitral Valve Replacement (MVR)

Watch Lennii’s mother share their full experience in the video below

Lennii Darusilla Trinity Rezel, a 15-year-old girl from Vanuatu, had been struggling with a serious heart condition. Doctors in her home country diagnosed her with chronic rheumatic heart disease (CRHD) along with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and moderate mitral regurgitation (MR). Her family learned that two of her heart valves were damaged and needed replacement surgery.

As this type of advanced cardiac surgery was not available close to home, the family started exploring treatment options abroad. Lennii’s father, Iarawoi Maine Rezel, who works with the Ministry of Health in Vanuatu, learned about Vaidam Health and the possibility of heart valve replacement surgery in India. After discussing it together, the family decided to travel so Lennii could receive the care she urgently needed.

After reviewing Lennii’s medical reports, the Vaidam team helped the family connect with Dr. Anil Bhan, Chairman of Cardiac Surgery at Medanta - The Medicity, Gurugram. Known for his expertise in valve replacement procedures and paediatric heart surgery in India, Dr. Bhan gave the family confidence that Lennii was in experienced hands.

To make the journey comfortable and stress-free, Vaidam Health supported the family at every step, including assistance with the medical visa, travel arrangements, hospital appointments, accommodation, food, airport transfers, and overall coordination during their stay in India. Both of Lennii’s parents, Iarawoi and Sabrina Rezel, travelled with her and remained by her side throughout her treatment.

At Medanta Gurugram, Lennii underwent double valve replacement surgery (AVR + MVR). The procedure included aortic valve replacement (AVR) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) to repair the damage caused by rheumatic heart disease. The surgery went smoothly, and Lennii was later shifted to recovery, where doctors and nurses monitored her closely.

Her recovery progressed steadily. During their three-week stay in India, the medical team carefully monitored her healing, adjusted medications, and guided her parents through every stage of recovery. With each passing day, Lennii regained strength and was soon ready to return home.

For Iarawoi and Sabrina, seeing their daughter smile again made the long journey worthwhile. The family returned to Vanuatu with a clear recovery plan, follow-up guidance, and gratitude for the care and support they received during their time in India.

“I came to India feeling unwell and a little scared, but the doctors and the team looked after me so well. Vaidam helped us with everything during our stay and made us feel comfortable in a new country. I am going home with a healthy heart and a big smile.”
— Lennii Darusilla Trinity Rezel

Vaidam Health wishes Lennii a long, healthy, and happy life ahead and hopes she continues to grow stronger with each passing year.

Written by

Suryani Dutta

Vaidam Health · Updated 22 Oct 2026

Suryani Dutta is a healthcare content professional specialising in medical research, content strategy, and patient-focused communication for international healthcare and medical tourism platforms. Her work covers in-depth treatment and procedure pages, doctor and hospital profiles, treatment costs, healthcare destinations, medical tourism, SEO, website content management, and digital healthcare initiatives. She works closely with doctors, writers, designers, and cross-functional teams to develop accurate, well-researched, engaging, and trustworthy healthcare content. With a strong focus on research and editorial quality, she simplifies complex medical information into clear, meaningful content that supports patients in understanding their treatment options and making informed healthcare decisions.

Content meets the Vaidam Policy and is medically reviewed

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Anil BhanCardiac Surgeon

Dr. Anil Bhan is amongst the best Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in the North India region, with 43+ years of experience. He was part of the team that conducted India’s first successful heart transplant in 1994. Dr. Bhan has performed over 15,000 cardiac and vascular procedures. He specializes in pediatric cardiac surgery, valve repairs and replacements, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, peripheral vascular surgery, etc. Dr. Anil has developed an extensive aortic surgery program in India, conducting more than 1700 aortic operations in children/adults and 200 aortic surgeries every year.