Patient Stories l Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

21 Dec 2020

15-year-old Receives Life-Saving Treatment for Extremely Rare Tumor

For a long time, 15-year-old Mubarak was unable to do all the things most children his age can do. He was then diagnosed with a rare, yet aggressive abdominal tumor. Mubarak had been experiencing unexplained stomach pain, high blood pressure and changes in behavior for a long time. He was then diagnosed with paraganglioma, a very rare and aggressive tumor, affecting only two in every one million people. It begins in the peripheral nervous system, the part of the body that controls functions including blood pressure, heart rate and intestinal movements. The tumor in Mubarak’s abdomen was sitting next to the aorta – the main artery that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Any operation in this area is extremely risky. His family visited many hospitals in both the UAE and India, looking for treatment, but due to the complexity of the tumor, no one was convinced they could successfully operate. The Oncology team in the Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi was confident that they had the expertise needed to save the teenager’s life. The operation turned out to be one of the most complex resections that the team have ever performed. Surgery required an integrated approach from the Heart & Vascular Institute, Digestive Disease Institute, Anesthesia team, Critical Care team and nursing staff at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. The tumor was in a complex location and close to major organs. The boy’s body had developed alternative blood vessels to compensate for blood flow that the tumor had blocked, and the 6-hour operation required the surgical team to be extremely careful to preserve these during the operation. The surgery was a complete success and following a course of radiation therapy to reduce the risk of tumors returning in the same area, Mubarak is fully recovered and looking forward to returning to school. Mubarak says, “I was told by so many hospitals that my surgery was not possible. But at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, they took care of me and took my pain away. I am excited to go to school and play with my friends and hang out after classes. I feel like my health is improving every day. My friends are waiting to see me. I share my progress with them on WhatsApp and hope to join them soon.” His father adds, “We can’t thank the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi doctors and nurses enough. I want to take a picture with all of them and tell the world that these great people helped my son live pain-free.”

10 Nov 2020

Liver Failure Patient Receives Life-Saving Nutritional Support Treatment at Home

Pamela was first admitted to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in mid-2019 with liver-failure, following a long and complex medical journey. She has suffered from a blood clot to her intestine and as a result of previous surgery, lost almost all of her intestine. She was diagnosed with a condition called Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS), which, due to the lack of functional intestine led to malabsorption of nutrition from the food she ate, and eventually led to her liver failing. Pamela says, “When I first came to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, I was looking for an intestinal transplant. The doctors assessed me to see just how badly my liver was damaged and decided to put me on Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). This treatment eventually fixed my liver sufficiently for them to perform the intestinal surgery on me that I needed.” Patients with conditions like Pamela’s require life-saving TPN to deliver nutritional products directly into the blood stream. Thanks to the innovative Nutrition Support Service offered at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, the first of its kind in the UAE, Pamela was able to receive her treatment at home. Pamela says, “My condition meant that I needed TPN to be injected for 12 hours a day, everyday. Being able to receive this treatment at home was life-changing. Instead of spending a prolong period in the hospital, the home care nurses provided me with all of the help and support I needed to take the TNP when and where I wanted. I take the TNP during the night, so my day is free to do what I want to do. I can be with my family and enjoy all the activities that I used to. It is life-changing.” Pamela now only needs to visit the hospital once a month, where she meets with Dr. Abdullah Shatnawei of the Digestive Disease Institute and a multi-disciplinary care team of other doctors, nurses and dieticians to review her eating and medication to ensure her nutrition status is maximized. Thanks to the dedicated program, today she is thriving. She is able to be active and participate in all of the things in life that she wants to. Pamela adds, “The care I have received from the entire team has not only changed my life, but also saved it. I am certain I wouldn’t be here today without their expertise and support.”

21 Sep 2020

Heart Attack Patient ‘Died’ Multiple Times Before Making Full Recovery

Adel’s story is remarkable. The 59 year old was rushed to the Emergency Department at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi with chest pains. He then took a turn for the worse. He went into cardiac arrest, he lost his pulse and stopped breathing. The team began CPR and multiple rounds of Advanced Cardiac Life Support, which included chest compressions and defibrillator shocks. Adel’s heart was restarted but he then went into cardiac arrest again. This happened a total of 10 times, something the team had never witnessed before. Adel was in a critical condition, but thanks to the expert team of specialists within the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Department, his condition was stabilized and he was taken to the cardiac catheterization laboratory where doctors placed a stent in the blocked artery, and also inserted an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) to help his weakened heart pump blood. Thanks to the combined efforts of teams in the Emergency Department, Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, Anesthesiology Institute and Critical Care and nursing staff. Adel went from the brink of death to sitting up and talking to his family in a number of days and was well enough to go home within two weeks.

24 Dec 2019

A Patient Regains His Voice and Confidence After Undergoing Surgery and Rehabilitation

Hassan Al Hammadi began experiencing sudden changes to his voice that were impacting his work and quality of life. Hassan Al Hammadi, an engineer from Dubai, began experiencing changes to his voice that were impacting his work and quality of life. He recalls, “My voice changed quite suddenly, and it was difficult to control. It sounded like I had a sore throat all the time. This interfered with my work as I deliver speeches and make presentations as part of my job.” Following an endoscopic exam, Hassan was diagnosed with a large polyp on his right vocal fold. The vocal folds (vocal cords) are two bands of tissue located in the throat – the sound of your voice is produced when air from the lungs passes through them. An extremely delicate and precise surgical procedure was carried out to remove the polyp causing Hassan’s voice issues, and was followed by specialized speech and language rehabilitation therapy. Director of the Voice Clinic at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi,Dr. Anastasios Hantzakos, says, “We have developed a comprehensive approach to tackling voice disorders, which first removes the problem surgically, while providing follow-up with the surgeon and a specialized speech and language pathologist. This is essential for proper voice rehabilitation.” Explaining how the treatment has changed his quality of life for the better, Hassan says, “I work for the UAE Military, have a very active sports life and, as a jet ski marshal, I give instructions through a megaphone during races, so I need a strong voice. The therapy not only helped my voice, it also changed my whole approach to life and I will be forever grateful.”

08 Dec 2019

Opera Singer Returns to Performing After Life-Saving Stroke Treatment

In February 2018, professional opera singer Louise Ryan suffered a life-threatening subarachnoid hemorrhage – a rare type of stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm in her brain. An aneurysm occurs when a weakened blood vessel in the brain burst, causing bleeding in the surrounding tissues. This type of stroke can be cause permanent disability or can be fatal in around half of all cases. Louise remembers, “I was at the gym with my husband and I suddenly felt the most excruciating pain from the top of my neck going up all the way to the front of my head. I could tell this was something serious.” Louise was transferred to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, the official stroke center for Abu Dhabi, where she was stabilized in ICU and her condition assessed. Dr. Khalil Zahra, a neurointerventional surgeon in the Neurological Institute explains that once Louise had been stabilized. The team was able to treat her using a minimally invasive procedure called endovascular coiling to prevent any further complications. Louise remained in hospital for 3 weeks while her recovery was monitored closely. Within 3 months, she was back to her passion in life – performing with the National Symphony Orchestra as a mezzo soprano. In October 2019, Louise returned to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to give a singing performance in gratitude for the treatment and care she received. She says, "Every single caregiver went above and beyond. Since my stroke, I have a much deeper appreciation of life and everything I’m able to do. I saw the piano in the lobby and I thought i would be a beautiful way to say thank you. “I was at the gym with my husband and I suddenly felt the most excruciating pain from the top of my neck going up all the way to the front of my head. I could tell this was something serious.”

05 Sep 2019

Patient Receives Life-Changing Robotic Bariatric Revision Surgery

Onood underwent first-of-its-kind, robotic bariatric revision surgery at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. After regaining weight following her first surgery, Onood’s BMI (body mass index) reached 63 kg/m2, which can bring about obesity-related disabilities. As a result, she was a candidate for the first-of-its-kind, fully robotic bariatric revision surgery in the UAE, which was conducted at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. The surgery is designed to reduce the amount of fat absorbed by the body, by allowing food to travel faster through the digestive system. To reduce Onood’s post-operative pain, the robotic Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch surgery rerouted a portion of her small intestine allowing for more precision and easier suturing. Her fast recovery resulted in being allowed to travel home to Fujairah only 4 days after her surgery. Onood is determined to sustain her new diet and daily routine: “I feel like my life has started again; like I have a second chance to become the person I want to be”.

18 Sep 2018

Challenging Multiple Sclerosis – A Patient Undergoes Treatment to Regain his Ability to Walk Unaided

Rashid’s multiple sclerosis had worsened to the point where his speech and memory were severely affected. Rashid’s multiple sclerosis had worsened to the point where his speech and memory were severely affected. Even keeping his balance and walking short distances without support had become impossible. Despite his deteriorating condition, Rashid was determined to challenge his multiple sclerosis. He wanted to be able to walk again, to study and work, and to start a family. Rashid started treatment at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, which included physical therapy and rehabilitation sessions to help improve his movement and balance. He says the support and efforts of the caregivers, along with his treatment have helped him regain his ability to walk unaided.

02 Sep 2018

Mother of Six Finds New Freedom After Receiving the First Double Lung Transplant in the UAE

When Rahima noticed a decline in her energy levels, it was an indication of a serious health concern. Rahima Younis, a 45-year-old wife and mother, first noticed her health declining more than a decade ago. She explains, “I started to feel that my energy levels were falling. It was hard to walk, and I was feeling very tired. Any movement was difficult for me as it felt like I was losing my energy and [I] could not breathe properly.” After visiting numerous hospitals in the United Arab Emirates to find an answer, Rahima decided to leave the country to consult other physicians for a second opinion. She was given her diagnosis in Thailand: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a progressive, fatal disease of the lungs that causes deep tissue to scar or become very thick and stiff. As the scarring advances, the lungs are unable to properly move oxygen throughout the body, causing oxygen-deficiency in the organs. “Idiopathic” refers to cases of pulmonary fibrosis where the cause is unknown. A Virus Curtails Treatment and Accelerates Disease Progression Rahima returned to the UAE to move forward with a treatment plan. However, she contracted a virus that deteriorated her health and forced her into hospitalization. After recovering from the virus, Rahima became dependent on an oxygen tank, which she had to take with her everywhere she went. “I couldn’t take care of my family because I wasn’t free to move as I was connected to the oxygen 24/7. There was nothing I could do without it. When I walked, I had to carry the oxygen; even praying and ablution was very hard for me.” For four years, Rahima was dependent on supplemental oxygen. In Dire Health, the Need for a Donor Arises Two years after Rahima recovered from the virus, as her health continued to decline, she was transferred to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Dr. Fadi Hamed, a pulmonologist in the Respiratory & Critical Care Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, received Rahima for care. After three years of using supplemental oxygen, Rahima needed a double lung transplant. She began to meet with a team of healthcare providers at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and was placed on the waiting list for a donor. The team included her pulmonologist Dr. Fadi Hamed, lead surgeon and Chief of Thoracic Surgery Dr. Redha Souilamas, transplant coordinators, dieticians, social workers, and psychologists. One year later, on June 10, 2018, Rahima received the call that a donor had been found and that she would be receiving a new pair of lungs. A New Pair of Lungs Provides Newfound Freedom Following the operation, Rahima felt immense gratitude. She expresses, “The first thing I did was thank God and the medical team, who put in all this effort to make my surgery successful... I could breathe again without the oxygen. I had dreamed of this day for a long time.” Today, Rahima has returned to her normal, daily life and keeps everyone involved in helping her regain health in her thoughts. Although Rahima has not met the donor’s family, she would like to send them the following message: “I would like to thank the donor and their family, who I have thought about every day since waking up from the surgery. Not everyone is so generous, and I don’t know how to reward them, but I wish them the best.”

11 Jul 2018

Young Woman Given Second Chance at Life after Being Diagnosed with Rare Brain Tumor

Chronic Headaches Develop Into Life-Threatening Symptoms Marwa Ahm, a 30-year-old office administrator, had been suffering from worsening headaches and muscle pain for years. At first, Marwa attributed her symptoms to poor sitting posture and sought help for muscle pain relief. But after returning from holiday in October 2017, her symptoms began to get progressively worse: over-the-counter pain medications no longer worked to relieve her headaches, which would often return stronger within a couple of hours. She experienced vomiting, dizziness 24 hours a day, and started to feel heaviness in her left leg and arm. At this point, Marwa knew she needed to seek medical help and consulted with physicians at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “I was dizzy all the time,” says Marwa. “I wasn’t eating because of severe nausea and headaches. I was no longer able to walk alone. I was worried I was going to fall at any time.” Rare Emergency Surgery Brings Relief Within two weeks of meeting with neurologists at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Marwa was given her diagnosis: a 4.5-centimeter benign (non-cancerous) tumor on the left side of her brain, at the base of the skull, was affecting the nerves and causing her symptoms. The type of tumor that Marwa had occurs in only four out of every 100,000 people. The nature of her diagnosis meant that she needed to have surgical intervention as soon as possible. First, Marwa had surgery to implant a device called a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, a thin tube that drains fluid from the brain to relieve pressure in the area. A few days later, she had a highly complex surgery to remove the tumor. The risky operation Marwa underwent is unique to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi -- it is not offered anywhere else in the country. Marwa was treated by Dr. Florian Roser, Chief of Neurosurgery at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and his neurology team. Possible risks include numbness in the face, double vision, stroke-like symptoms, and the possibility of not being able to swallow. Marwa shares, “Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is one amazing place. I don’t like hospitals, but honestly, I got my life back again because of the people that helped me. With all of the suffering and pain that I’d gone through, they were helpful, kind and amazing people. Even my family was treated very kindly.” She declares, “It was the best place I could ever be.” A Brand New Beginning Marwa returned to work just one month after the procedure to remove the tumor. She is currently free of symptoms and able to return to doing the things she loves with a new sense of purpose. “I have become a much stronger person through this process. Life is worth taking good care of yourself. It’s not about getting the perfect job, buying a certain car or going shopping. There is no life without health. That’s what’s important. If you have good health, you’re living. If you’re not in good health, you’re not living.”

Inspiring Stories from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Patients.

A Patient Regains His Voice and Confidence After Undergoing Surgery and Rehabilitation

Patient Stories

15-year-old Receives Life-Saving Treatment for Extremely Rare Tumor

Liver Failure Patient Receives Life-Saving Nutritional Support Treatment at Home

Heart Attack Patient ‘Died’ Multiple Times Before Making Full Recovery

A Patient Regains His Voice and Confidence After Undergoing Surgery and Rehabilitation

Opera Singer Returns to Performing After Life-Saving Stroke Treatment

Patient Receives Life-Changing Robotic Bariatric Revision Surgery

Challenging Multiple Sclerosis – A Patient Undergoes Treatment to Regain his Ability to Walk Unaided

Mother of Six Finds New Freedom After Receiving the First Double Lung Transplant in the UAE

Young Woman Given Second Chance at Life after Being Diagnosed with Rare Brain Tumor

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