A shop worker who had to have his leg amputated was fitted with a prosthetic and had his physiotherapy funded by a UAE charity and members of the community.
Hashan Ali, 32, was admitted to hospital in Al Ain after feeling unwell. Doctors diagnosed a bacterial infection in a heart valve and immediately began treatment.
During his stay, a bacteria-infected blood clot travelled from the heart to his leg, blocking blood flow to the leg. The blockage caused a flesh-eating infection of the muscles, necrotising myositis.
Doctors immediately transferred him to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, where surgeons replaced his infected heart valve, removed the clot from his leg and removed the affected tissue.
My biggest worry was how I would be able to support my family back home if I cannot continue working
Despite several treatments to clear the infection and prevent more tissue from dying, it continued to spread. Doctors determined that an amputation would be the only way to save his life and prevent further necrosis.
“I was very scared when my doctor told me that I would need to have my leg amputated," said Mr Ali, whose wife and three children live in Bangladesh and rely on his salary to survive.
"The doctors had tried their best to save my leg and I understood that if they hadn’t removed it, the infection would have spread further. Afterwards, my biggest worry was how I would be able to support my family back home if I cannot continue working.”
The hospital’s vascular surgery team amputated the leg and tried to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible to support a quick recovery.
Social workers from the hospital contacted his employer, embassy and local charities in the hope of finding a sponsor for a prosthetic limb so he could return to work.
“Care doesn’t end with medical treatment. Our team is here for patients as they return to their lives following their recovery. In Hashan’s case, the life-saving care he received has left him with significant challenges to overcome. By supporting him through this process, we can help him return to work and continue providing for his family,” said Paul O’Shea, a social worker at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
Members of the UAE’s Bangladeshi community and embassy staff rallied to support him through his recovery. Representatives from the Zakat Initiative visited Mr Ali and said they would cover the cost of a prosthetic leg.
Mr Ali's employer also assured him his job would be waiting for him once he was discharged from hospital.
Once he recovered from surgery, Mr Ali was fitted for a permanent prosthetic and returned to work. He also began a lengthy course of physiotherapy so he can learn to live with and care for his prosthetic leg.
Since making a full recovery, in May, Mr Ali has chosen to return to his family in Bangladesh after years of working in the UAE.
“I am so happy with the help and support Paul and his team have given me during my stay. Thanks to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and the Zakat Fund, I have been able to continue providing for my family," Mr Ali said.
"Now I hope to begin a new chapter of my life at home with my wife and children."
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEric%20Barbier%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYoussef%20Hajdi%2C%20Nadia%20Benzakour%2C%20Yasser%20Drief%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
