AL AIN // When Yahya Al Kitbi saw his older brother Mohammed take his first step after a massive stroke it was a moment he had never thought possible.
After collapsing at his Al Ain home and suffering a brain haemorrhage four months ago, doctors told the family of Mohammed Al Kitbi, 49, it was improbable that the father of three would ever walk or talk again. He would most probably spend the rest of his life reliant on a ventilator, they said.
Today the Emirati is close to making a full recovery and is back home after undergoing an intensive rehabilitation programme at Amana Healthcare hospital in Al Ain.
“I am very happy. Now he is walking and talking. It is unbelievable,” said Yahya, 39, who took a leave of absence from his job in the military to keep a daily vigil by Mohammed’s bedside.
He said he could not imagine life without his brother. “We are very close. We are like the nail and the finger,” said Yahya, who feared for his sibling’s life after the stroke.
“His condition was really bad. But after the first two to three weeks in Amana, I had hope that he would get better.”
Mohammed said he felt pain in the right side of his body as he lay in bed moments before the stroke occurred. “That night I woke up and felt something was abnormal and I called for my wife,” he said.
His next memory was of waking up at Amana. “When I woke up I wondered why I was here and why I was in this position,” said Mohammed. “At the beginning I was very depressed, thinking I could not walk again. But as I began to improve I felt there was some hope there and I wanted to go back to my wife and my daughters.”
It was this perseverance that aided his miraculous recovery, the doctors said. Taking his first bite of food and walking his first steps marked two post-stroke milestones.
“I cannot explain how happy I was. I never expected to reach this point,” he said.
His wife of 17 years, Bakhita, smiles as she watches her husband chatting and smiling while gripping a glass of orange juice.
These everyday actions are something she only dared hope for four months ago. “I have never been so stressed before,” she said. “Now … I am very happy.”
Mohammed suffered a stroke after failing to take his medication for high blood pressure.
He was admitted to a hospital in Al Ain, a period he cannot recall. Five weeks later he was admitted to Amana.
“They certainly felt he would not recover,” said Magi Livadaris, the general manager of Amana Healthcare hospital.
At that time, Mohammed could not breathe without a ventilator, could not eat or move independently and had no means of communication except for limited facial expressions.
“There is a look in a patient’s eyes that you see and he was scared. So you knew he had enough cognitive function to realise I was not happy,” said Ms Livadaris.
Masab Moumneh, a Syrian intensive-care specialist, said Mohammed was put on an aggressive therapy programme involving up to five hours’ rehabilitation a day.
He received respiratory therapy to wean him from his ventilator, and he learnt to breathe independently after 13 days.
Helen Hughes, a senior physiotherapist at Amana, said Mohammed also received speech and language therapy to restore his ability to speak and to eat independently.
The hospital closely monitored his medical problems, including hypertension and heart disease.
To be sure, Mohammed has made a remarkable recovery. Less than two months after his family was told that he might never leave hospital, he is now able to walk with a cane, breathe independently, talk normally and is back home with his family.
Mohammed has since regained about three quarters of his motor-neurone function.
It was recoveries such as Mohammed’s that made the work at the hospital worthwhile, said Ms Livadaris.
jbell@thenational.ae
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
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FLIP5
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Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Sri Lanka Test squad:
Dimuth Karunaratne (stand-in captain), Niroshan Dickwella (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan and Lasith Embuldeniya.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
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New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
New Zealand
Penalties: Barrett (7)
British & Irish Lions
Tries: Faletau, Murray
Penalties: Farrell (4)
Conversions: Farrell
Ferrari
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