Doctors in Abu Dhabi saved the life of a baby weighing only 380g at birth, successfully treating him for several life-threatening conditions.
Mohamed was delivered prematurely by emergency Caesarean section at 28 weeks after doctors found him to be in distress during tests.
He weighed as little as a can of Coke and had to be resuscitated and ventilated after birth to help him breathe as his lungs had not yet fully developed.
He was also treated for anaemia, an electrolyte imbalance, a grade-one brain haemorrhage and patent ductus and an extra blood vessel in his heart, among other complications which are common in babies who are premature.
He stayed for 124 days in Nicu and could well be the smallest baby discharged from a private hospital, weighing only 380g at birth
Dr Aditya Rakhecha,
head of department and neonatology consultant
But after spending 124 days in the Nicu at NMC Royal Women’s Hospital, he was discharged in good health with no lasting medical problems.
“Mohamed had an incredible journey in the Neonatal ICU,” said Dr Aditya Rakhecha, head of the department and a consultant in neonatology.
“He stayed for 124 days in Nicu and could well be the smallest baby discharged from a private hospital, weighing only 380g at birth. Babies less than 500g rarely survive but he fought off various complications and progressed well in Nicu.”
His mother, Rawan Elbashir, 31, is a pharmacist and was being monitored closely because she developed hypertension in a previous pregnancy, which resulted in her giving birth to her daughter early at 32 weeks.
The first signs of trouble in her pregnancy with Mohamed developed at 18 weeks when doctors explained her blood supply to the baby was abnormal. She delivered him 10 weeks later.
“It all started when my pregnancy was less than 20 weeks,” she said.
“After being seen by the hospital’s fetal medicine expert, I was informed to have abnormal uterine doppler [a measurement of blood supply to the uterus and placenta], which can lead to the same previous condition of pregnancy-induced hypertension and premature delivery.”
She said her pregnancy and his first few months of life were difficult.
“I was prepared for Mohamed to stay in Nicu for the whole year but thanks to the excellent team that all ended much sooner,” said Ms Elbashir, who is from Sudan.
Abdelsalam Elamin, her husband, who is also Sudanese and works as a PRO, said he waited eagerly to hold Mohamed and take him home.
“It was an indescribable, incredible feeling. It was amazing and satisfying to watch him grow while he was in the Nicu,” he said.
Dr Eman Sadek, a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology at NMC Royal Women’s Hospital, said the majority of babies born that early and weighing as little as Mohamed do not survive.
“At birth, he only had a feeble heart rate without any spontaneous movement or breathing and needed immediate resuscitation,” said Dr Aditya.
“After being artificially ventilated, he became active, with good heart rate and skin colour.”
She said Mohamed was treated by several specialists, including a cardiologist and an ophthalmologist. He also underwent surgery to treat a hernia.
Low birth weight is classed as 2.5kg, or 2,500g. Babies who weigh less than 1,000g are considered to be extremely low birth weight. And those who weigh less than 500g have the most health problems and are much less likely to survive, Stanford Children’s Health said.
A spokesman for the hospital said it treats around 200 low-weight babies every year. It has discharged more than 50 babies who were born with extremely low birth weight over the past six years.
“I am delighted for little Mohamed and his family,” said Michael Davis, chief executive of NMC Healthcare.
“This young fighter braved all odds as his army of doctors, nurses, technicians, and other medical staff stayed focused on their mission of saving his precious life.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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