RIYADH, 30 November 2004 — An appeal has been made to help a young Bahraini woman suffering from acute sickle cell anemia. Twenty-year-old Amina Abdullah Al-Motawa was released recently from Riyadh’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSH), but is scheduled for readmission in January for further treatment.
The shortage of funds has delayed treatment for Amina, whose friends and relatives in the Kingdom have now called for help.
Seven years ago, Amina had severe pain in her right kneecap. The disease severely damaged her right thigh and an artificial bone was inserted, Abdulkarim Buallay, one of the fundraisers for the ailing woman, said here.
“After that operation, Amina suffered a lot and was admitted many times to the hospitals, where they found that the artificial bone has been causing friction with the pelvis, necessitating immediate surgery.”
Amina was admitted to the KFSH in Riyadh early last month and underwent an operation to replace a thighbone with help from well-wishers in the Kingdom and Bahrain. She is to undergo another operation in January, but she has no money to cover the costs of the operation, medical treatment and rehabilitation.
She will be readmitted to the hospital in the second week of January. Recently, she was in the intensive care unit (ICU) in a critical condition after losing lot of blood during the operation, said Buallay. Her blood type is ‘O’ negative, which is a rare group, and that has added to the problem.
An artificial bone had already been inserted and efforts are being made to ensure her body gets accustomed to it.
“Amina hasn’t been able to walk for such a long time and we hope she will be well again and continue with her life as normal,” he said.
“We must pray for Amina, who got married only a few months ago and her parents are hoping that she will get well and have children that will bring joy to the family,” Buallay said.
He urged the public to dig deep in their pockets to help this young woman stand on her feet once again.
“Imagine that this is your daughter, wife or sister and that her fate is in your hands,” he said.
