An Emirati teenager diagnosed with cancer as a young boy has been commended for his bravery and perseverance. The story of Abdul Rahman Al Bastaki, 14, was highlighted by the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior on Tuesday. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed said the youngster had overcome enormous hurdles to not only fight his illness but also continue to excel in his studies. He said the government had stepped in to help Abdul Rahman on learning about his plight by paying for his cancer treatment in America. Posting a two-minute video of Abdul Rahman on Twitter, Sheikh Saif said the teenager represented a remarkable story of the “success” of a UAE pupil who had been “helped by the government system and his own strength and perseverance”. Abdul Rahman, who attends Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid School in Dubai, said he had been motivated to study and succeed by his friends. “They were very close to me and I didn’t want to be held back and end up in a different class,” he said. “I used to always be the top of my class and the least I would get was third in the class. “That’s why I was determined to remain at the top. I didn’t want my grades to be affected by my illness. Thank God, I succeeded when I was abroad.” Abdul Rahman revealed he had passed his grade eight exams after using two educational websites to help him study. The Ministry of Education also provided him with personal tutors – one in the UAE and the other in America – while he was undergoing treatment. “I want to thank God for everything as well as my supportive parents,” he said.
