UAE: Patient makes miraculous recovery after spending 9 months in hospital

A 46-year-old female patient with severe multiple health complications has made a miraculous recovery after spending over nine months in the hospital.

Saritah Parathodi Thekkepat, an Indian national residing and working in Dubai, was bedridden when she was brought to NMC Provita. She was completely dependent on others for all daily activities after suffering a multifocal hemorrhagic stroke, flaccid paralysis and acute kidney failure.

Dr Ahmad Al Khayer, medical director, NMC Provita International Medical Centre, said the patient was brought by her family to the emergency unit with acute confusion and an altered level of consciousness.

“She had a very complicated hospital course, presented with sepsis, secondary to strangulated umbilical hernia, multiple organ failure and an acute stroke. She was intubated and transferred to the ICU post laparotomy – small bowel resection and excision of umbilical hernia sac were done,” he said.

During her rehabilitation sessions from October 10, 2021, till she was discharged on July 13, 2022, she would always cry in pain and had stiffness in both shoulders and hands.

The doctor said she had minimal or no functional movement in both upper and lower limbs except her right foot, which had no movement at all.

Dr Al Khayer said the patient suffered from impaired sensation also on her lower limbs with absent touch, pain and proprioception on her right foot.

“Her out-of-bed activities, such as wheelchair sitting and going to the gym was limited due to a stage 4 pressure ulcer on her sacral area. She had a very complicated hospital course, presented with sepsis, secondary to strangulated umbilical hernia, multi-organ failure and an acute stroke,” he added.

“She will continue with her rehabilitation at home and all the skills she has learned,” concluded Dr Al Khayer.