Miracle baby Mia, whose Filipina mother died of Covid-19 shortly after giving birth, has returned home to Sharjah after well-wishers raised Dh144,500 to pay her medical bills.
The baby was born prematurely and endured a difficult few weeks in intensive care at Zulekha Hospital after her mother, Florissa, suffered acute respiratory distress syndrome resulting from coronavirus.
Thanks to 24-hour supervision in a critical care unit and two months in hospital, Mia was allowed home this week to be with her proud father, Jeremy.
I wish my wife was here so I could have seen the expression on her face - that our dream of having our own family had just started
He said it was a bittersweet time for the family.
“There has been loneliness and heartache after my wife died, but I knew I had to be strong for my Mia,” said Jeremy, who withheld his family’s name.
“I am getting my strength and focus from my baby. This helps me to keep fighting to think for her welfare and future.”
Raising money without agreement with a registered government charity is against the law in UAE.
But donors can pay money directly to hospitals to help with medical bills – which many people generously do.
Florissa, 43, was seven months pregnant when she contracted Covid-19.
When her condition worsened, she was admitted by ambulance to hospital.
As doctors realised they were unable to save her, they performed an emergency Caesarean section to deliver her baby.
Mia arrived two months early and weighed just 1.4 kilograms, not much more than a bag of sugar.
After more than eight weeks in hospital, the little fighter is now a healthy 3.7kg and has grown to 51 centimetres in height.
Doctors said she is recovering well and although she has shown mild symptoms of colic, they expect her to be well enough to fly home to the Philippines within six to eight months.
Because Florissa’s medical insurance expired on March 31 and was limited to Dh150,000 of fees, it did not cover the costs of her care or those of her daughter.
However, a community appeal raised enough donations to cover the total cost of the family’s medical bill.
“I really didn't expect that the support and donations would pour in like that,” said Jeremy, who works for a financial advisor in Dubai.
“It relieved my stress and anxiety when I saw that help was on the way.
“My daughter and I are really grateful and thankful for all of this love and support that we received from so many good-hearted people.”
After billing details were published online, donors came forward to contribute to the medical fees incurred at Zulekha Hospital for the care of Florissa and Mia.
Between April 15 and 25, the hospital received Dh144,503 in donations - Dh37,503 more than required.
The excess will cover Mia’s ongoing care and hospital appointments. She is expected to be in the UAE for the rest of this year.
“It has been a mix of emotions to finally leave hospital,” Jeremy said.
“I felt very happy that Mia was able to go home, but also sad.
“I wish that my wife was here too so I could have seen the expression on her face that our dream of having our own family had just started.”
The Stop and Help community Facebook group, which helped more than 100,000 people during the coronavirus pandemic, encouraged hospital donations.
Its founder, Heather Harries, said Jeremy and Mia’s plight struck a chord with the community.
“Jeremy is a wonderful gentleman and his cause was a worthy one to support,” the Briton said.
“It was heartwarming to see so many people come forward to ensure baby Mia’s future was secure and that her life started without any worry about finance.”
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
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Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
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Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
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Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
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Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
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Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
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Oman
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Nigeria
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- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
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The line up
Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego
Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh
Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
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Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
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- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
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Dust storm
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TALE OF THE TAPE
Floyd Mayweather
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● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
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2.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner Lamia, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
Winner Jap Al Afreet, Elione Chaves, Irfan Ellahi.
3.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m
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4pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 2,000m
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4.30pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 1,700m
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5pm Sharjah Marathon (PA) Dh70,000 2,700m
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TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
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How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
