Abu Dhabi: It has been the best Ramadan blessing this six-year-old Sudanese boy and his Abu Dhabi-based family could have ever hoped for.
Moneb Ahmad received a new lease of life following three-hour open heart surgery on May 28 to fix a congenital heart condition.
Doctors at the Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, where the Sudanese boy was operated, say Moneb was at risk of heart failure and the operation was conducted just in time.
Moneb’s father, Mutawkil Ahmad, told XPRESS the timing could not have been better as the family now has one more reason to celebrate Eid Al Fitr this year.
Delayed growth
Moneb was born with an extra membrane in the heart which was blocking his aortic artery. “Aorta is the main supplier of blood and oxygen to the body and if it is blocked, it can lead to a retarded physical growth and eventually heart failure,” explained Dr. Walid Shaker, consultant and head of cardiothoracic surgery at Burjeel Hospital, who operated on the six-year-old.
“His echocardiography revealed a severe narrowing of the outlet of the aorta. It was the main reason of his delayed growth. In addition, his heart was progressively thickening which could have resulted in heart failure,” he said.
Painful childhood
Moneb’s father, a truck driver, said: “It is so hard to see your child suffer. He could not run or play like other children and would constantly complain of short breath. We also noticed he was not gaining height or weight unlike his twin brother. Some weeks ago, while his twin brother weighed 28kg and reached a height of 126cm, Moneb was only 21kg and 117cm tall. This worried us. We consulted doctors and they suggested the operation immediately as his life was at risk. Thank God, he will now be able to lead a normal life and play like other kids.”
Dr. Shaker said the operation involved dividing his chest bone to access the heart. “An artificial machine was plugged in to keep his heart and lungs running. We located the membrane blocking the aorta and removed it. Moneb was discharged five days later and is now recovering well. We are expecting Moneb’s growth to soon match his twin’s,” he said.
Moneb’s mother, Eslam, said the family is planning a big gathering at their place for Eid this year. “We have not celebrated the festival in all its fervour for some time. This year will be different,” she said.
