Dubai Little Mohammad is finally home – thanks to XPRESS readers.
The baby, born under the most trying circumstances on October 25, 2013 after his mother fell on a pavement and subsequently died, was stuck in the Al Baraha Hospital ever since as his father Shaikh Syed Bawazeer could not pay the bill to get him discharged.
But in less than a week after the publication of the newborn’s story on January 16, readers raised around Dh200,000 that his father owed to the hospital.
An overwhelmed Bawazeer, who walked out of the hospital with the baby on Tuesday afternoon could barely hide his tears as he held the bundle of joy in his hands. The 31-year-old storekeeper, who hasn’t had the time to grieve over his wife’s death, told XPRESS: “I miss my wife so much. But I am so happy to hold my son. I don’t know how to express what I am feeling at this moment.”
He said: “I would like thank to XPRESS and its generous readers who helped me. I would also like to thank my dear friend Mazher who stood by me in my time of need and reached out to the press.”
Despite the tribulations of the past few months, Bawazeer said his faith in humanity has been restored by the unconditional support he has received from the community.
Readers, who lost no time in responding to the story, poured their hearts out for the little boy, offering instant help. “I am ready to help the man whose baby is stuck in the hospital. I would like to know how much donation do you need?” wrote one reader.
Bawazeer said donations came in all denominations. “One Arab resident, who did not want to be identified, donated Dh41,000, while another Indian resident paid Dh26,000.”
A widow with an eight-year-old daughter who wanted to donate Dh300 wrote: “I would like to suggest a petition that could be signed by all that support this cause...Something that could be sent to Ministry of Health, insurance companies and aid charities...I am fortunate to have a sponsor that commits to helping me with my daughter. I don’t have much, but I would like to pledge Dh300 to this cause!”
Bawazeer said his mother, sister and year-and-a-half-old daughter were scheduled to arrive in Dubai on Wednesday to take care of Mohammad while he would get his birth registration and passport done. “I will then travel back to India with them.”
He said Mohammad has been diagnosed with a hole in his heart which needed to be addressed.
“The hospital waived Dh30,000 and the final hospital bill came up to Dh178,000. I received a total of Dh215,000 in donations, so I have some money left. I intend to use it for Mohammad’s treatment and also of another little boy called Ali who is suffering from bone marrow cancer.”
