"I just went in [to City Hospital in Dubai] feeling sick. From the time when I was admitted to when the doctor told us I had to deliver, we didn't even realise what we were getting into. It was such a shock," said the Pakistani-Canadian expatriate, who has lived in Dubai for four years.
Although happy with the care provided by the doctor and midwife who oversaw the delivery, in the immediate aftermath Mrs Sakrani and her banker husband, Fahad Lyoob, were not offered any specific support regarding premature babies, she said.
"The doctor and midwife were very supportive, and supported me emotionally, but it was 10.30pm on a Friday night [when I delivered], so while I didn't get very specific support as to what a 'preemie' is, I don't blame them either.
"I think what you really need, for me, anyway, is to speak to people who have had premature babies and discuss what they are going through, what happened, et cetera."
Weighing 900 grams, baby Rania developed bleeding on the brain shortly after birth. Coupled with an infection and weak lungs, she was kept on a ventilator for nine weeks.
"I just felt, for a really long time, that it was my fault, that I did something wrong," said Mrs Sakrani.
As well as leaning on her family and friends, the 29-year-old first-time mother found solace in online forums created by parents going through the same experience.
"Our family would say: 'She was born small, she just needs time to grow', but that's not the only thing. The chances of your child having every kind of complication are even higher.
"Sometimes, you just want to speak to someone who would understand where you are coming from."
Although Rania, who is now eight months old but whose corrective age is five months, appears to be developing at the rate she should be, her parents will have to wait until she's two before doctors can determine whether or not she has developed any long-term complications.
Rania left the intensive-care unit after 113 days but the emotional and financial worries for her parents continue, further highlighting the need for more support from hospitals.
The idea of a support group like the one offered by Mrs Settembri is an excellent idea and should branch out farther to reach the families most in need, said Mrs Sakrani.
"We need to make a programme and reach out to the parents currently going through this, because that's the time that's most important."
Mrs Settembri will be out of the country until early February. In the meantime, she has asked people to contact her on bsettemb@hotmail.com or via Skype: belen.settembri.
zalhassani@thenational.ae
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The years Ramadan fell in May
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
