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Perfect Christmas gift: Man meets son after two years in Dubai, thanks to employer

Dubai - Watch the video and try not to cry (*sniff, sniff*)

A Ugandan staffer at a Dubai clinic broke down in tears when he unwrapped a big Christmas present box that awaited him at his manager's house to find an unexpected surprise that will forever stay in his memory.

David Muyomba, an archives officer at My Dental Clinic in Dubai, couldn't believe it when he lifted the box to find his 15-year-old son Darren, whom he hadn't seen for two years due to financial constraints.

The clinic's founder Carl Gorton and his family arranged the father-son reunion during an early Christmas dinner at their house. Thanks to them, David and Darren will be spending an unforgettable Christmas and New Year's holiday.

"I almost fainted, I couldn't believe it. I was touching (my son) to make sure he's not a ghost," David told Khaleej Times over the phone. "It took me two days to get over the shock. I haven't shed that much tears since my mother passed away."

In a video filmed by the family, David is seen running away to the other room at the first sight of his son before both have a tearful embrace.

David, who's been working at the clinic since 2014, hasn't been able to see his son due to changes in the boy's boarding school schedule in Uganda and financial restraints.

Witnessing how sad David was for being unable to arrange a trip to Uganda, Gorton decided to go to Germany to meet David's sister Linda Ariebu and arrange a passport, ticket and visa for the boy to fly to Dubai.

"We all agreed that Christmas was the best timing as it's a time of giving and also because it's an important holiday for David being Christian," Gorton told Khaleej Times.

He recalled, "I ended up lying to David that I had been invited to Germany by a supplier and that I'd like to have his sister's number to get some tips of what I should see/do there. We later arranged a passport for Darren, along with his ticket and visa."

On the day, David was invited to dinner at the family's house, after which Gorton secretly went to pick up Darren from the airport while the family took David for an "evening walk in the area" until Darren reached the apartment and reunited with his father.

David and Darren are currently spending the holiday in a hotel in the Palm, financed by Gorton, and taking trips around Dubai.

"So far, I have taken Darren to the movies at Dubai Mall where we also saw the fountains. We went to Atlantis and the Global Village and later on, we are arranging for a desert safari trip and Ferrari World," said David, who will be spending time with his son until January 4.

For New Year's Eve, both are planning to get a nice view at Business Bay to see the light show at Burj Khalifa.

"I'm very happy I'm spending Christmas with him. I can't thank [Gorton] and his family, and my sister enough. Darren is all I wanted for Christmas," said David.

Meanwhile, Gorton said he would never forget David's selfless giving to others.

"We met David when my wife once arrived to Dubai without having withdrawn money for a taxi. Being a heavy sleeper, I didn't hear my door bell nor my phone ringing, and that's when David who, without knowing her at all, helped out by paying for her taxi and calling me until I finally woke up."

Gorton, who later hired David when he set up his dental clinic, said Christmas is all about sharing love and kindness with those around you.

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com