Dubai: Imad was born without hands and legs but he doesn’t let that stop him. The five-year-old climbs stairs unassisted, paints and draws with pens and brushes held in his mouth, goes about most of his daily tasks on his own, and believe it or not, even helps his mother in household chores at their Ajman home.
“He is a wonder boy and never ceases to amaze us. We had given up hope when he was born. I thought he would never be able to sit on his own, let alone do all this,” said his mother Rizna.
Imad was born to an Indian father and Sri Lankan mother on April 17, 2008 in Khalifa Hospital with a twin sister, Al Muna, who is completely normal.
Self-taught
Until his birth, there was nothing to suggest that he would be different from any other baby. Their parents never once questioned their gift. “It was the will of God,” said his father Shapheer Khan, a salesman for a perfume company.
Rizna said she never taught Imad anything as she thought he wouldn’t be able to cope. “He picked up everything on his own by merely observing his sister,” she said, showing drawing and colouring books featuring Imad’s works.
As if on cue, Imad scooted along the floor on his torso and returned with a sheet of paper and pencil. Within seconds, he drew a sketch of this reporter’s cellphone, complete with screen and keys. “Did you see that?” said Rizna.
“He doesn’t let his disability affect him in any way. So much so that he even tries to help me wash utensils in the kitchen. I feel heartened, but I don’t encourage him as I would rather see him in a school than in the kitchen.”
However, for now it’s just wishful thinking as no school is ready to accept Imad. “I have approached several schools, but they have all turned us away,” said Khan. “I want my brother to come with me to school,” said Al Muna.
Khan said he cannot afford a special school or prosthetics for his child. “We went to a local hospital and were told that artificial limbs would cost Dh50,000. But that’s beyond our reach.”
If you wish to help Imad write to: editor@xpress4me.com
