Critically ill Emirati girl becomes sea princess for a day in Capital
abu dhabi — A 14-year-old Emirati girl, stricken with a genetic disorder that has left her paralysed, was flown from an Al Ain hospital in a police helicopter to a beach resort in Abu Dhabi to make her longcherished wish of being a sea princess come true.
When the Al Ain hospital — where Halima is undergoing treatment — came to know about her “dream”, they got in touch with Make A Wish Foundation UAE, an organisation that fulfils wishes of children suffering from critical illnesses.
The foundation then contacted the Abu Dhabi Police, who shifted Halima in a helicopter from Al Ain to a beach resort in the Capital.
Halima dressed up like a princess and wore a crown made of roses. She went to the beach and realised her wish to be a sea princess. Emirati singer Eida Al Menhali made the ambience more lively and exhilarating as he sang Halima’s favourite songs. The girl was all smiles as she lived her dream.
The teenager is suffering from neurofibromatosis — a genetic disorder of the nervous system. “She was a normal baby. However, the disease was diagnosed later, and it grew. She is paralysed now and totally dependent on a ventilator. Halima has developed brain cancer. It hasn’t so far affected her senses. She is alert and aware of everything happening around her,” said Dr Mohammad Al Masri, paediatric and intensive care specialist at NMC ProVita Al Ain.
“We are trying our best (to help her) with medication, physiotherapy and psychological care. Her condition has been improving in the last one-and-a-half years,” Al Masri added.