Sanjay K. Hegde, director, spine surgery, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, and the team, with the 15-year-old international patient, and her mother. | Photo Credit: M. SRINATH When 15-year-old Sedi Van Genderen developed a spinal deformity, her mother, Iris, scoured the internet in search of an expert who could cure her. Treatment for her daughter was not available in their country, Suriname, South America. Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, was one of many healthcare centres she emailed, and she got a reply from them the same day. “The next day, I was on a video call with the doctor. He told me to come as soon as possible to Chennai for my daughter’s treatment,” Ms. Van Genderen says. That was in January. In February, mother and daughter travelled to India. Published – April 20, 2026 11:30 pm IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Two booked for obstructing movement of vehicles at Nantoor Junction Mediation training programme begins at DSNLU