Girl finally finds cure in UAE

Dubai: Getting admitted to various hospitals here and abroad and undergoing multiple surgeries at a young age is a difficult and painful experience.

Moza Omar Al Shehi lived this kind of life for nine years. But all that has changed — thanks to a breakthrough surgery at Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Hospital.

Doctors at RAK Hospital conducted a laparoscopic surgery or minimum invasive surgery to treat the young Emirati's condition called Hirschsprung's disease, a congenital disease wherein the large intestine gets blocked due to poor muscle movement in the bowel.

Moza, who has had two other surgeries at age two and five to treat this condition, was admitted in the hospital because of a severe abdominal pain, distension or increased pressure in the abdomen, and chronic constipation.

Immediate action

"Hirschsprung's disease causes about 25 per cent of all newborn intestinal blockages. Milder cases may not be diagnosed until a later age. Therefore it's important to identify the symptoms and take immediate action. Children who get treated early in life or who have a shorter segment of colon involved have a better outcome," Dr Anup Panigrahi, head of Minimal Invasive Surgery Department at RAK Hospital, said.

Parents whose babies fail to pass stool within two days after birth, have difficulty with their bowel movement, are difficult to feed, and whose skin colour is yellowish, among other symptoms, should have them, checked immediately by a physician.

The affected section of Moza's colon was surgically removed.

"We would like to thank Dr Panigrahi and RAK Hospital for helping our daughter regain her normal routine so quickly. She has been suffering for years and even our best efforts couldn't help alleviate the pain and discomfort," Moza's parents said.

"We have consulted many doctors and visited many hospitals in different countries; and it makes me happy that at last, we were able to get the right treatment at our own emirate, in Ras Al Khaimah."