Iraqi children look forward to a brighter future

Abu Dhabi: Even though he is only four years old his blood is replaced every three weeks and surgery performed on him every three to six months.

Ishtar Ebrahim was eight months pregnant when a bomb landed 25 metres from her home in Iraq, knocking her unconscious. Doctors took X-rays of her baby Hussain Abdul Kareem, and detected scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

When he was only seven months, Hussain's parents felt he was shrinking in size, he weighed only two kilos.

"At that point in time, we found out that Hussain was suffering from both scoliosis and Thalassemia major (a severe form of anaemia and oxygen depletion) which requires 280 milligrams of blood replacement every three weeks," said his father, Alaa Abdul Kareem.

Hussain inherited Thalassemia major from both parents who were diagnosed with Thalassemia minor (a mild form of anaemia).

The UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) offered to provide Hussain and his family with medical treatment after being informed of his condition.

Nine-hour operation

After a nine-hour operation to adjust Hussain's spinal cord, another operation followed four months later where a rigid brace was placed on Hussain's spinal cord. He has also started to wear a corset brace to avoid further curvature.

"Hussain will always have Thalassemia major. As for his scoliosis, he requires an operation every time he grows in height to be able to adjust the length of his back brace which keeps his spinal cord intact," said his father.

According to Dr Hiam Al Hallal, a pediatrician and an active volunteer at the RCA, Hussain's psychological state has improved up to 90 per cent from when he first arrived in the UAE. "He can now smile, walk and react to other people," she said.

Six-year-old Jumana Anas and her twin sister Roqiya were born prematurely at only six months. They were both born with cerebral palsy and a severe hip dislocation.

Jumana, however, stood more of a chance of improving than her twin sister, and arrived with her mother in the UAE to receive the required medical assistance.

"The hospital in Iraq was supposed to keep my twins in incubators for two months, but they only lasted two days due to the war in Iraq, so oxygen did not reach their brain which caused even more complications," said Jumana's mother.

Jumana has had three different operations in the UAE; a four-hour hip replacement that left her in a cast for four months and a wheelchair to date, surgery on her eyes due to a squint and the implantation of four platinum teeth.

According to Dr Mohammad Billeh, Medical Coordinator of the Relief and Emergency Department at the RCA, Jumana is mentally and physically handicapped but has developed since her arrival in the UAE.

"This child couldn't walk, she used to crawl. She can now stand up and take a few steps, which is a major improvement."

An explosion in the kitchen of their Iraqi home left another 12-year-old child, Toka Abdul Amir, with second-degree burns to her neck, chest, abdomen, thighs and left forearm.

She was treated by local surgeons in Iraq through repeated debridement and skin grafting surgery, which left her bed-bound for three months.

"Toka could not extend her neck due to skin shrinkage, when she first arrived. Through reconstructive surgical procedures and tissue expansion she will eventually reach reasonable results," said Billeh.

The 12-year-old told Gulf News she now has hope and looks forward to the future.

"My hobby is drawing and one day I plan to become a plastic surgeon," she said with a smile and a hopeful gleam in her eyes.

According to Toka's father the surgeon in Iraq told the family she stood no chance of looking normal again.

"He destroyed our family's morale until we arrived in the UAE and received positive feedback and hope from doctors and surgeons who keep telling us Toka will go back to normal and better!"

Help to date: 68 patients treated

So far the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) has supervised the treatment of 68 patients from Iraq, mostly children who arrived in three different groups.

The first group consisted of 56 patients with 55 escorts (family members).

The second group consisted of 11 patients with 11 escorts.

The third group consisted of one patient with one escort.

Common conditions

Iraqi patients arrive in the UAE with various medical conditions, namely: