Critically Ill COPD Patient Shares His Story of Recovery

Hazim was admitted to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in a critical state. He was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – a collective term for lung diseases which limit airflow in and out of the lungs and cause progressive and severe breathlessness, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

He recalls, “I was sweating, shaking, I felt so tired and couldn’t move as I was so weak. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for my wife, my son and my family.”

Hazim’s COPD was stabilized, and since leaving the hospital he and his family made the decision to make a permanent move to a new family home, just a stone’s throw from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He says, “It’s wonderful just to walk around, enjoy the greenery, it’s calm, it’s relaxing, my lung capacity hasn’t deteriorated which is amazing – it’s a miracle.”

Hazim says he was treated like family by his caregivers at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi – something that made a world of a difference to him and his family.