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#PowerOfHope: 12-year-old who can't stand without breaking his bones gets treatment in Dubai

He was completely dependent on his mother, Mona, who struggled to raise him and his six siblings.

What is the price of a smile? Now multiply that by 71 million. For, that's the number of lives that the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives touched and transformed in 2019. It is more than just a cold statistic; it is the number of sighs of relief, tears of joy and stories of gratitude from around the world. In this series, Khaleej Times showcases eight people whose lives MBRGI changed last year through the power of hope. Part 1 of an 8-part series
Muayad Al Arjani, a 12-year-old boy living in Palestine, suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, more commonly known as 'brittle bone disease'. Barely able to stand or walk without breaking bones in his legs, Muayad was confined to a wheelchair throughout his childhood, unable to play with his friends or lead a normal life.
He was completely dependent on his mother, Mona, who struggled to raise him and his six siblings, including her 26-year-old son suffering from a similar genetic condition. The siege conditions and lack of resources in the Gaza Strip had left his family helpless and unable to find him adequate treatment.
During their visit to Gaza, doctors from the 'The Little Wings Foundation' decided to transfer Muayad to Dubai to undergo a life-changing surgery and treatment for his condition.
His family was filled with immense joy and hope that Muayad would finally receive the long-awaited medical attention he needed to take him one step closer to leading a normal life.
Speaking of her son's determination, Mona said: "Muayad has always hoped to walk normally, and I am sure he has the ability to change his current reality. Our lives will change after this surgery."
With the support of Al Jalila Foundation, Muayad was admitted to King's College Hospital in Dubai, where he underwent a complex surgery to insert telescopic steel rods into his legs and repair the repeated fractures.
Muayad may not be able to walk and run exactly like his friends, but the surgery will allow him to become more independent and will soon release him from the confines of his wheelchair.
Al Jalila Foundation has been collaborating with 'The Little Wings Foundation' for the past two years to provide financial and medical support to children suffering from musculoskeletal deformities in the Middle East and North Africa.
During their last visit to Gaza in November 2019, a team of doctors and surgeons screened 150 children, performed 39 surgeries, and provided custom-made orthoses to 25 young patients.
In 2019, the MBRGI's spending on healthcare and disease control initiatives totalled more than Dh118 million, benefitting around 7.5 million people worldwide.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com