Sharjah: An 18-month–old girl will be reunited with her parents during the next few days after spending three months in hospital.
An Emirati benefactor, who lives in Al Ain, has come forward and says he will bear all hospital costs and pay for her air ticket home. The Pakistani toddler, Khadijah Mohammad Mustafa, suffered brain damage after nearly drowning in a bath.
A hospital spokesperson confirmed to Gulf News that the girl’s condition had stabilised and she could be discharged, however, there had been no response from her family.
Khadijah was initially admitted to GMC Hospital and then moved to Al Qasimi Hospital. However, her parents left for Pakistan with the toddler’s brother after their residence visas were cancelled as the company where Khadijah’s father was working had shut down, Surour Mohammad, the girl’s uncle told Gulf News.
He said the incident took place while her mother was sleeping and the child sneaked into the bathroom and jumped into the bath. She was a very active chid, he said.
The couple sold their gold to be able to pay the GMC Hospital bill. Then they took her to Al Qasimi Hospital but when the time came to take her home they did not have enough money to pay the bill.
Khadijah was admitted to Al Qasimi Hospital’s emergency department on November 20. The family lived in shared accommodation in Ajman, Mohammad said. According to a medical report, she suffered brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen supply for a brief time while she was under water.
Her uncle said: “I have applied for a visit visa for my brother — Khadijah’s father — many times but it was rejected by the authorities.”
He told hospital staff that Khadijah did not have a birth certificate as her parents had failed to get one issued because of financial difficulties. He refused to take the girl home due to her condition, fearing he would put her life at risk if he removed her from hospital.
The couple put the child under the guardianship of her uncle before leaving the country contrary to the reports that the parents had abandoned the child and fled the country.
The Emirati donor, who preferred not to be named, offered his help to the family and will bear all hospital costs and buy an air ticket for Khadijah in addition to a ticket for a nurse who will accompany her until she reaches her country safely and is reunited with her family.
“Really I would like to see the Emirati donor to thank him, I just hear from the hospital about his noble deed... All my family in Pakistan are praying for him and ask Almighty Allah to reward him and grant him paradise,” Mohammad said.
He is working to obtain all official papers from the embassy so Khadijah can travel in the next few days.
