In a prompt response to a report published by Al-Emarat Al-Youm about the condition of the Syrian child Ahmed, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) in Dubai coordinated the transfer of AED 27,840, donated by a benefactor to cover the cost of his treatment. This initiative falls within the department’s efforts to support urgent humanitarian cases and promote social solidarity.
Ahmed, aged 13, has been suffering from muscular dystrophy since the age of two, which has caused severe spinal curvature, limited mobility, and breathing difficulties, forcing him to rely on a ventilator permanently.
He is now set to undergo an intensive physiotherapy program over six months, with three sessions per week, at a specialized rehabilitation center in Al Ain.
The child’s father expressed deep gratitude to the donor, affirming that the gesture reflects the deeply rooted humanitarian values of the people of the UAE and their unwavering commitment to helping those in need. He said: “My son’s joy upon hearing the news was indescribable. He kept repeating: ‘Now I will get better.’”
The father explained that signs of the illness first appeared when Ahmed was just two years old. His movement was delayed, and he was unable to crawl—symptoms that were initially underestimated. Over time, his condition worsened, leading to muscle weakness and deformities. He underwent two surgeries, one to insert a feeding tube directly into his abdomen and another to address his deteriorating health.
In 2020, his condition drastically declined. He experienced abdominal gas buildup and severe respiratory issues that led to a coma and required 15 days of medical supervision at Tawam Hospital. Since then, he has needed a ventilator during sleep.
By 2023, Ahmed developed a severe spinal curvature that compressed his lungs and worsened his physical and mental condition, leaving him unable to walk or move parts of his body. Doctors recommended intensive physiotherapy at a rehabilitation center to help him regain partial mobility and relieve his suffering.
The father noted that he is unable to afford the treatment costs due to financial hardship. He works in the private sector, earning a monthly salary of just AED 5,500, of which AED 3,500 goes toward rent, with the remainder barely covering the basic needs of his wife and four children.