One of Our Caregivers Becomes a Patient When Her Ability to Breathe Deteriorates

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi caregiver Manar became one of our patients when her breathing worsened.

Manar Al Khatib, a caregiver working in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi‘s contact center, developed a cough that seemed to come and go with changes in the weather. At first, she thought allergies were to blame. She consulted a number of physicians, each of which attributed her symptoms to asthma. After using prescribed inhalers and medications for asthma treatment, instead of noticing an improvement in her symptoms, Manar realized her symptoms were getting worse. Over the next nine months, she started to develop serious respiratory complications.

At the contact center, Manar is often on the phone for work. Her respiratory problems became apparent to others over the phone. She was experiencing a significant decline in her health. “I felt like I was extremely debilitated,” Manar recalled. “My difficulty breathing was interfering with everything, especially sleep, and I just didn’t have the energy to do even basic activities or simply walk around.”

Finally, Manar’s symptoms became so extreme that she decided to visit the emergency department at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

A Life-Threatening Discovery

At the emergency department, Manar was evaluated and referred to Khaled Saleh, MD. The inconclusive nature of Manar’s symptoms and medical history led Dr. Saleh to recommend that she return for a series of tests and scans.

The results from a CT scan revealed a huge mass at the top of her chest, which was located on the thyroid gland. Manar was suffering from what is known as a substernal goiter, which means that an enlarged thyroid gland was compressing her trachea and making it hard for her to breathe. The mass measured more than 7 centimeters. It was so large that it was considered to be life-threatening.

“I was shocked to know that the mass had been on my chest all along,” Manar explained. “When I tried to understand my condition, there was usually talk of my respiratory system, but only after I went to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, was there a focus on my lungs and heart, which uncovered the cause of my symptoms.”

Manar was then referred to thoracic surgeon, Redha Souilamas, MD.

Because of the complexity of the goiter as well as its location, the medical team was concerned of the risk of damaging the delicate vocal chords during surgery, which were located close to the goiter.

However, as a specialist with 20 years of experience, Dr. Souilamas was able to successfully remove the mass from Manar’s chest using a minimally invasive technique, without any damage to the vocal chords. The nature of the minimally invasive technique meant that Manar did not have to stay in the intensive care unit, but instead was able to recover on the acute care patient floor and return home after only two days following the operation.

‘Caregiver’ Brings New Meaning

Since then, Manar’s symptoms have been completely eliminated. Manar says she feels like a new person, and she now eats, sleeps and exercises with ease. When Manar reflects on her experience, she recalls the moment of joy when after months of uncertainty, the clinical team at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi finally brought clarity to her condition.

Now, Manar supports others in the community who are in a similar position. “I remember very clearly the moment when I was in front of my doctors and they were explaining to me with confidence what was wrong and how they could fix it. It was a moment of extreme worry, but at the same time of relief and joy. I felt reassured that I was going to get the medical care I needed. When people call Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi looking for the same level of expertise and compassion, I am grateful to have an opportunity to play a role in helping them on a path to better health."