Baker’s gratitude for extraordinary gift of Dh140,000
A man who needs two operations at a cost of Dh140,000 to save his sight has thanked an anonymous donor for covering the cost of the procedures.
Hassan Sultan, 53, who has worked at a bakery in Dubai for 23 years, has been silently tolerating his medical problems after developing complications from a thyroid operation five years ago.
The Iranian suffered from hearing problems, paralysis and a dry eye, and urgently needs surgery on his eye and face.
Mr Sultan has no health insurance and earns only Dh3,000 a month. He also supports his seven children but shortly after his plight was published in The National a reader, who wanted to stay anonymous, came forward and paid the cost of his medical treatment.
“I am so grateful and I just want this person to know that I pray for him or her in all my prayers,” he says. “I’ll finally have my surgery – two surgeries for my eye and face.”
Mr Sultan says speaking to The National was his last resort.
“I never expected that someone would come forward and pay all the cost for my surgery so fast,” he says. “I hope this reaches them and they know that their donation has helped to relieve me of so much pain.”
Without surgery, Mr Sultan would have lost his eyesight.
“I didn’t complain or say anything for five years but it was becoming too hard for me. I am so relieved that I got help so quickly. I approached many charities and they said that they could not help me.”
Hisham Al Zahrani, manager of zakat and social services at Dar Al Ber Society, says: “It is unusual for us to receive such a large donation so fast and in one lump sum.
“We were all ecstatic and contacted Mr Sultan and the hospital to arrange for the surgeries.”
He says Mr Sultan wants to wait a few days until his neurologist returns from leave before booking his procedure.
“I hope all our Helping Hand cases receive such support,” Mr Al Zahrani says.