“Daddy, you’re the best daddy ever.”

For R. Selva Ganapathy, those words are the first thing that comes to mind whenever he thinks about his daughter, Harsheetaa Sai.

This Father's Day, the teacher from SJK(T) Saraswathy in Sungai Buloh finds himself carrying two emotions at once, immense gratitude and immeasurable heartbreak.

Harsheetaa, who captured the hearts of Malaysians during her fight against a rare congenital heart condition, passed away on June 6 last year following complications from multiple organ failure and sepsis after undergoing surgery in the United States.

Yet for her father, she remains far more than a child remembered through headlines and fundraising campaigns. She was his greatest teacher.

“She used to tell me, ‘Daddy, you're the best daddy ever,’ so naturally, without any reason,” Selva recalled.

Harsheetaa always wanted to be close to me. Whether she was walking, travelling, watching television or sitting down, she wanted to be beside me. Today, those moments are priceless.

When asked to describe his daughter, Selva does not hesitate.

“Harsheetaa was joy in human form. She gave me the purest love I have ever experienced.”

He said she had an extraordinary ability to bring happiness wherever she went. Whether it was dancing, singing or simply interacting with others, she had a natural gift for lighting up a room. But beyond her cheerful personality was a heart filled with compassion.

“She never chose who to be friends with. Everyone was her friend. She cared about people, animals and every living thing. She always thought about others before herself.”

Unlike many children her age, Harsheetaa was never possessive.

“If another child wanted her toys, she would simply give them away and say, ‘Let them be happy.’ That was who she was.”

The little girl who taught everyone about strength. Since birth, Harsheetaa battled heterotaxy syndrome and severe congenital heart defects. She underwent multiple surgeries throughout her young life, including three open-heart surgeries in Malaysia. Yet despite enduring challenges that no child should have to face, her father remembers her as someone who never allowed illness to define her.

“She never saw herself as a sick child. She was always smiling.”

Looking back at photographs and family memories, Selva says there is one thing that stands out.

“In every photo, she looks happy. That happiness kept us going.”

“Even after everything she faced, she continued smiling. She showed courage beyond her years. She taught me that real strength is not being afraid, even when life is difficult.”

Among all the lessons Harsheetaa left behind, one remains closest to her father's heart.

“She taught me that love does not need conditions.”

Selva reflected on the many relationships people experience throughout life as children, siblings, friends, spouses and parents. Yet nothing compared to the love he experienced as Harsheetaa’s father.

“If it wasn't for Harsheetaa, I don't think I would have realised how powerful love truly is.”

“She taught me honesty, kindness, compassion and pure love.”

“She also taught me that life is not measured by how many years we live, but by how deeply we touch the lives around us.”

For many families, Father's Day is a celebration. For Selva, it is also a painful reminder.

Last year, Father's Day coincided with Harsheetaa's final rites. This Father's Day is a mixture of gratitude and heartbreak.

“I am grateful because I was blessed to be her father, even if it was only for nine precious years.At the same time, Father's Day reminds me of seeing her in the coffin during her final farewell.”

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Despite the grief, he says the bond between father and daughter remains unbroken.

“I celebrate being her father. I am proud to be Harsheetaa's father. It is a bond that never ends.”

Drawing from his family's journey, Selva has a message for parents whose children are facing serious illnesses.

“Never give up. Your child depends on your strength.”

Even in the most difficult moments, he believes parents should cherish every second with their children.

“Hold them close. Tell them you love them. Play with them. Create memories whenever you can. We always think we have more time. But life can change in an instant. At the end of the day, the moments you create today become the memories you carry tomorrow.”

During Harsheetaa's medical journey, Malaysians from all walks of life came together to support her family. From donations and prayers to temple offerings and acts of kindness, strangers became a source of strength during one of the family's darkest chapters.

“Many people had never met Harsheetaa, but they treated us like their own family.”

“I saw people praying for her, doing annadhanam and even undertaking spiritual journeys. How do I thank them?”

“We will forever be grateful.”

Today, Selva believes his daughter would want him to continue living with happiness and love.

“She would want me to smile. She would remind me not to be sad all the time.”

Perhaps most importantly, he hopes to honour her memory by helping other children in need.

“Maybe the same effort I gave to Harsheetaa, I can give to many other children. Maybe that would make her happy. She taught me that love never ends.” 

Father's Day can be bittersweet, but it’s also a beautiful reminder of the lessons learned from our loved ones. This Father's Day, we remember the little girl who showed her dad what real courage and love look like. Mr. Selva, you’re a superhero in Harsheetaa’s life!