Today's Edition
HUDA AL-TANIJI (ABU DHABI)
The medical team at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, affiliated with Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), successfully treated four-year-old Hamda, who suffered from several health complications due to her premature birth.
She was born in the 32nd week of pregnancy and underwent 33 surgeries. Hamda was diagnosed with bilateral vocal cord paralysis and tracheal stenosis, a narrowing of the air passages in the throat. This necessitated her undergoing a tracheostomy, a surgical procedure in which surgeons create an opening in the windpipe through the skin to serve as an alternative airway for breathing.
In addition to these complications, the child faced difficulties in oral feeding due to swallowing problems, requiring the installation of an external feeding tube directly into her stomach.
A team of doctors at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City took care of her.
The Pure Health group, the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East, achieved significant progress in diagnosing and treating rare digestive disorders in children through Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.
Since its opening in 2019, more than 500 children with complex digestive and respiratory disorders have benefited from the services of the specialised clinic. The clinic includes various specialties under one roof, such as ear, nose, and throat (ENT) medicine, paediatric pulmonology, paediatric gastroenterology, nutrition, speech and language pathology, respiratory therapy, and general paediatrics, in addition to the nursing team.
Positive Impact
Dr. Asma Al Marzouqi, Consultant Paediatrician at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, said that the clinic, which combines multiple medical care specialties for all complex cases of digestive and respiratory system diseases, adopts a collaborative approach.
“Experts from various medical fields come together to ensure that patients achieve the best possible medical outcomes. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City is firmly committed to providing high-level healthcare and having a positive impact on the lives of children and their families,” Al Marzouqi said.
“The case of the child Hamda is just one example of many that make us proud and grateful as doctors at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, and for what has been accomplished thanks to God Almighty, and the medical team, to allow Hamda to reach a normal state. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City is committed to providing high-level healthcare to the patient and having a positive impact on the lives of children and their families.”
Effective Care
Dr. Sofia Konstantinopoulou, Paediatric Consultant, Head of the Respiratory and Digestive Programme at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, said that the the respiratory and digestive programme at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City combines several medical specialties in one place to serve patients suffering from congenital or acquired health problems related to breathing, swallowing, nutrition, growth difficulties, or development.
“The programme aims to provide cost-effective care that focuses on the family and centres around the patient by utilising our best capabilities. Our intensive efforts align with the vision of the Pure Health group, which aims to promote excellence in the healthcare we provide,” Konstantinopoulou added.
Thanks to the exceptional care received at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Hamda can now breathe completely naturally and eat through her mouth without any problems. She is growing and gaining weight healthily and exhibits remarkable intelligence and cognitive development, displaying excellent skills in reading and writing even before joining school.
The Healing Journey
Hamda’s mother shared her ordeal during the pregnancy and the great care the child received at the hospital.
She said: “When I was in the seventh month of my pregnancy with my daughter Hamda, I heard the news of my husband’s grandmother’s death. I rushed down the stairs, causing a placental abruption, depriving Hamda of oxygen and nutrients for two weeks. This affected her nerves, vocal cords, throat, and lungs.
“I later went to the hospital and was surprised to learn that I needed to undergo an early delivery. Hamda was born weighing 700 grams and spent three months in the intensive care unit of a hospital. It was said that she wouldn’t survive for more than a year; her heart was stopped, and she relied on machines.”
She mentioned that she never lost hope in God for the improvement of her little daughter’s condition. She and her husband made every effort to transfer her to Khalifa Medical City, where she received intensive care from doctors and specialists.
Hamda has now returned to her normal condition, eating and drinking like other children. She expressed her immense gratitude to all the medical team members in the hospital and to the efforts of those supporting her daughter.
Hamda’s father said that despite the struggles, he did not lose hope. He also expressed his gratitude to the medical team at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.
“When my daughter Hamda was born, there wasn’t much improvement in her condition. But with hope in God and the care of Khalifa Medical City and the exceptional medical services provided, Hamda’s condition has improved significantly. She underwent approximately 33 surgeries, a considerable number for a child. We did not expect her to improve in this way without hope in God, reliance on Him, and the care provided. Hamda was initially registered as a person with disabilities, and now she is in good health and a normal child,” he said.
“I would like to send a simple message to everyone that no matter what circumstances or condition a person is in, they should not lose hope because hope in God can change situations. This is what happened to us with the support provided in the medical care field from Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, which contributed to Hamda’s treatment,” he added.
He expressed sincere thanks to the UAE for its excellent care for patients and to all entities that contributed to the treatment and improvement of his daughter, including the Presidential Court, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, and the Health Department in Abu Dhabi.
