JEDDAH, 17 August 2006 — Three-year-old Abdullah had the last chance to bid his farewell to the only family he has ever known yesterday at the nursery unit of Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz University Hospital.
In the midst of an emotional scene, hospital staffers the child has lived with since he was born escorted him to the car as he waved goodbye with his little hand.
Abdullah’s father had initially disowned his son for being born with severely deformed legs; the child will require orthopedic support and a wheelchair for the rest of his life. However, KAUH’s efforts in having the father place Abdullah on his family ID card and consenting to the transfer of his son to Taif’s Care Institution for Paralyzed Children have paid off.
“I’m grateful that Abdullah’s transfer was successful to Taif’s care institution. I owe this to Allah, Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Majed, and police officer Mashour Al-Otaibi for their enormous efforts in supporting and helping us. Their care and embracing of Abdullah went beyond the call of duty,” said Rasheed Al-Jehany, director of administrative affairs at KAUH.
In a visit in April by Arab News to the hospital, Somaya Ali Abdalwahab, administrative coordinator at KAUH, explained that Abdullah’s father refused to acknowledge his son after the mother gave birth to him and then disappeared. Abdullah was abandoned because he suffers from spina bifida.
The nursery’s employees were sincerely looking after Abdullah. He is a mentally stable child regardless of his hydrocephalic condition. Somaya said that Abdullah started having sudden states of rage and continuous screaming because he was in need for his mother’s love and was sick and tired being imprisoned in the nursery unit.
Al-Jehany mentioned that the hospital rejected many attempts from philanthropists who were willing to adopt Abdullah without having to go through the procedures of official documents and legal papers. The hospital’s objection was that people must be aware of the fact that families must never desert handicapped and disabled children.
“Parents must realize that it’s not the toddlers’ fault that they were born with a disability and it’s not the end of the world either,” said Al-Jehany. “They ought to show more responsibility and compassion toward these children, because if the mother and the father abandon their disabled children then who will provide them with their emotional needs?”
