Surgery to change boy's life 12 years after accident

Dubai - Mahmoud Najaira was left with a severe facial deformity after being involved in a run-over accident in Palestine.

In 2003, 6-year-old Mahmoud Najaira was left with a severe facial deformity after being involved in a run-over accident in his home country, Palestine. Today, the now 18-year-old arrives in Dubai to undergo medical treatment that will change his life.
"He was able to leave. Thank God!" Palestine Children's Relief Fund - Dubai Chapter (PCRF) president, Yara Al Saleh, told Khaleej Times on Sunday.
After hearing that Mahmoud had successfully passed through his country's border - which has prevented many from travelling over the past few months - Saleh said his journey to a "better life" had begun.
Following that accident in 2003, Mahmoud was left badly disfigured after the right side of his skull and eye socket was subjected to major trauma.
Through the PCRF, he will undergo reconstructive surgery on his jaw, followed by cosmetic reconstructive surgery to his face. "We have agreements with several hospitals that will provide our children with the treatment they need, free of charge," Saleh said. Due to ongoing bullying at school, Mahmoud was forced to drop out in the 10th Grade, but his debut trip to Dubai will see him finally get the treatment he has wanted for so long.
"The primary objective of the PCRF is to identify and treat every child in the Middle East in need of specialised surgery not available to them locally. We put forward Mahmoud's case to the Neuro Spinal Hospital and they approved it very quickly," Saleh said.
PCRF Dubai first heard of Mahmoud's case after social workers in Palestine nominated him for treatment and contacted the Dubai chapter."There just isn't a big enough support system in Palestine to provide Mahmoud with what he needs. It has affected his psychological well-being and his education," she said.
Each year, PCRF Dubai locates, sponsors and runs volunteer missions to the Middle East to help suffering children from the region, based only on their medical need.
They are then flown over to the UAE - or one of 34 other Chapter countries - to stay with a host family and get the treatment they need. "Mahmoud's case was slightly more difficult when finding a host family. We only got confirmation of his placement on Saturday evening," she said. And the reason for the delay could have a lot to do with his age and physical appearance.
Unfortunately, some families find it difficult to host patients who have severe deformities, especially if small children are present in the home, she said.
"It took us three months to secure Mahmoud's host family. Last week I couldn't sleep because I thought his one chance at life changing medical treatment may not happen. But when I got the call from Yousef, I was so happy."
American-Egyptian, Yousef Elaty, will host Mahmoud during his initial one-month stay.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on Sunday, Elaty said this is his first time hosting a child from the PCRF. "For me it is a privilege and an honour," he said.
After briefly hearing about Mahmoud's case through friends that work for the Fund, Elaty decided he wanted to help out in any way he could.
"If I am in a position to be able to help someone, then why wouldn't I?"And it is this spirit of volunteering that Al Saleh wishes to see more of in the UAE.
"It is so humbling to see people help out like this. It shows that you can help change someone's life, even just by doing little things."
During his stay in Dubai, a team of volunteers from the PCRF will support Mahmoud by accompanying him to and from appointments.
Following his first surgery, Mahmoud will return home to recuperate with both a medical follow up team and a psychological support team.
"We have to remember, his physical deformity may be obvious but what is not so obvious is the psychological effect the accident has had on Mahmoud. What we do is offer him that help," Al Saleh said.
Mahmoud will then return to Dubai early next year to undergo cosmetic reconstructive surgery at the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital - which provides about 10 free of charge treatments each year for PCRF.
kelly@khaleejtimes.com