A small, breathless Indian boy who's living out his numbered days in a tumble-down shack in a remote Fijian village has inveigled his way into two young hearts 2500 kilometres away in Tauranga.

He is nine-year-old Avishek Kumar – but to Tauranga residents Amy Watson , 17, and Caitlin Brown , 18, he is ‘Tinku' and 'he's the loveliest, sweetest kid”.

Tinku's Kiwi connection – Amy Brown and Caitlin Watson. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

But Tinku has limited time – he suffers severe mitral regurgitation, pulmonary hypertension and congestive cardiac failure which all add up to one very sick little boy.

Amy says Tinku has a poor prognosis. 'If he doesn't get his heart operation, he will die; and if he does get his operation, there's a real chance he won't survive it.”

At home in Rakiraki – halfway between Nadi and Suva on the Kings Rd, Tinku is confined to the house because the heat of the day leaves the boy breathless and could kill him.

Now Caitlin and Amy want to play Santa – they want to bridge the oceans and the cultures and offer him a little Kiwi kindness. And they need $6500 to do it.

The Tauranga duo were smitten by Tinku while on volunteer service in his village.

'We dug a well and fought off frogs in the shower and spiders the size of a cinder block.”

Then one night a small boy emerged from the shadows as the girls were teaching local children to play Last Card. It was Tinku and he immediately charmed them. 'He was so quiet and shy,” says Caitlin.

Tinku will get his chance at life with an operation early next year, but it will be in India because Fiji doesn't have the facilities.

The operation's been paid for by the Fiji Government and local Indian community, but the family still needs the $6500 for accommodation, food and other bits and bobs.

That's where Caitlin and Amy come into the equation.

'Please, please understand the family's predicament,” says Amy. 'They come from a village with little, and Tinku's dad is a sugar cane worker earning $40-$60 dollars a fortnight.

'They have saved $500 which, considering what they have, is amazing.”

They ask: 'Can you spare a little Kiwi Christmas cheer for Tinku please?”

And there's a heartfelt appeal from a desperate mother, Tinku's mother, Suman.

'Can you help us please? We are trying our best to save him. We don't have enough time. We are praying.”

Prayers will help but a small donation would be gratefully received at a difficult time in a distant village.

To make a donation to Tinku's Give A Little Page click here.