When 2-month-old baby boy Muhammad had great difficulty breathing and eating his parents grew worried and were even scared to lose him. After careful medical observation it was confirmed that he suffered from congenital heart disease and needed urgent open-heart surgery to repair the cardiac malformation.

Muhammad’s parents had lived in Dubai for over 10 years and also have a 6-year-old daughter who is attending school. His father supported the family through work as a salesman and his mother was engaged in looking after baby Muhammad and his sister. The family’s budget was already stretched and they certainly did not have the financial means to cover the surgery costs.

Through the Al Jalila Foundation A’awen Giving website, we spread the word on Muhammad’s condition and our supportive community responded by flooding his campaign page with donations and raising the full amount needed for the operation.

Thanks to these generous donors Muhammad was able to undergo the life-saving surgery and post treatment care he desperately needed. Today, Muhammad’s breathing is healthy, and he is growing up to be a strong vibrant little boy.

Muhammad’s parents are forever grateful, “From the bottom of our hearts we give great thanks to all the compassionate people who donated so that we have our son by our side today. We cannot express our joy to witness the return of his healthy appetite and the sound of his laughter when he is playing with his sister.”

Nobody wants to hear “you have cancer”, nobody.

An avid cyclist, Guido De Wilde, approached his cancer journey like a challenging bike ride – an endurance race – and when he recovered it was important to him to give back. Guido knows first-hand the impact of a cancer diagnosis and, with Cycle Against Cancer, he wanted to deliver a message of hope to other cancer patients and raise funds for Al Jalila Foundation to help patients in need.

The 7-day charity cycling challenge from Guido’s home country of Belgium to Italy (from Waterloo to Bergamo) covered 1,200 kilometres and climbing 14,000 metres. The team faced torrential rains, high speed winds and steep climbs but remained determined to achieve their goal. Their efforts paid off! The campaign raised an incredible AED 370,000 to support the fight against cancer.

“I am so proud we were able to deliver on our promise. It was a result of doing the right thing as one team and of the tremendous response we received from the community. We are hugely grateful and thank all donors for their generosity.”

Congratulations to the team: Guido De Wilde, Luc Vercruyssen, Filip De Grauwe, Filip Lauwers, Jan Dhont, Servee Palmans, Tim Derry, Walter Roelants and Wim Tavernier. We are incredibly proud of how they used their passion for cycling for the greater good.

Guido is proof that “there is life after cancer” and his story spreads hope and inspiration to others on the same journey.

Click here to watch a recap of Cycle Against Cancer.

When Dubai resident Shayani Madushika felt a slight itch and pain in her left breast last July, she quickly feared the worst.

Initially brushing it off as nothing untoward, the mother-of-two decided to consult a doctor, mainly for reassurance, as the pain persisted and a lump had formed.

Ms Madushika, 44, had only recently moved from Sri Lanka to Dubai with her two children to join her husband but her life was turned upside-down only days after that initial appointment, when she received a diagnosis that the small lump was a cancerous tumour.

After several tests, doctors confirmed the presence of a tumour and informed Ms Madushika that it needed to be removed.

“The radiologist’s test results came back and showed a suspicious lump,” she said. “[I was advised to get] a biopsy to confirm what exactly it was. Everything was happening so fast and additional test results confirmed that the lump was cancerous. I felt like I was given a death sentence.”

Having only recently moved to Dubai, she had no medical insurance and limited funds to hand.

Fearing this would delay her recommended treatment, she began to feel helpless.

“Doctors confirmed I did not need to undergo chemotherapy but said I needed to start a three-week bout of radiation,” she said. “When I inquired about the costs of treatment, it was extremely expensive.” Her doctor recommended she get in touch with the Al Jalila Foundation in Dubai, which could help with the costs of the treatment.

“The foundation is absolutely amazing,” she said. “In a matter of a few days, my request was approved and I was set to have my radiation treatment in the best hospitals in UAE. I felt blessed.”

Not only did the foundation cover the cost of the treatment, she said the emotional support she received through the Majlis helped her to maintain a positive attitude throughout.

“I am ever so grateful to the Al Jalila Foundation for funding the total cost of my radiation treatment. I was blessed to have been in UAE for the treatment. The doctors, nurses and all medical staff have been nothing but wonderful. I have never received or seen that kind of kindness and patience.”

In December, Ms Madushika underwent her last radiation session and doctors confirmed that the cancer had not spread.

Speaking to The National, Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, chief executive of Al Jalila Foundation, said breast cancer was the most common form of the disease affecting women in the UAE.

“[It makes up] 38 per cent of all female cancers. A breast cancer patient knows first-hand just how valuable having the right treatment to fight the disease is. Al Jalila Foundation consider it a privilege not only to be in a position to provide financial medical assistance to patients like Shayani, but also to offer emotional support through our Majlis Al Amal community.”

Ms Madushika has since returned to Sri Lanka so her children can attend in-person classes but said being in Dubai at the time of her diagnosis saved her life.

Note: Shayani’s story was  published by The National on 23 August 2022.

Saad Syed has become the first doctor in his family and in his words “a dream come true” which he credits to his Al Jalila Foundation scholarship. Alea Mohammed says that she could not “have reached this milestone without the support of Al Jalila Foundation”. Aya Akhras pursued her academic journey with great pride and looks forward to “serving the UAE and giving back”.

Saad, Alea and Aya from the MBRU Class of Khalifa 2022 recently graduated from the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) with Al Jalila Foundation scholarships. We are proud to celebrate 11 new medical doctors set to embark on the next chapter of their careers in medicine.

The graduates are made up of exceptionally talented men and women from 7 different countries who consider the UAE their home. By empowering the next generation of medical professionals Al Jalila Foundation is supporting the UAE healthcare agenda and enabling these bright students to realise their dreams of becoming doctors and saving lives.

At Al Jalila Foundation we know that a medical profession is one of the most noble and anyone pursuing this goal will undoubtedly be of great service throughout their life.

The commencement of MBRU Class of 2022 marks a total of 56 Al Jalila Foundation scholarship graduates in nursing, dentistry, public health, pharmacy, molecular biology and biotechnology, among others at local institutions and three international scholarships at Harvard Medical School and Boston University. Since the scholarship program launch in 2013 Al Jalila Foundation has invested almost AED 20 million to nurture the next generation of doctors.

Baby girl Santhoshi was born with a congenital heart problem ‘patent ductus arteriosus’, which is a hole in her heart. By the time she was two months old she was having great difficulty breathing and unable to gain weight, and the doctors confirmed that she needed urgent open-heart surgery to repair the cardiac malformation.

Santhoshi’s parents, who had been married for 13 years, were overjoyed at the birth of their first child and the news that their baby girl had very serious health complications was a devastating blow.

On top of the difficult diagnosis, Santhoshi’s father had been on a reduced salary due to the global pandemic and the family did not have the financial means to cover the costs of the life-saving surgery.

With the support of Al Jalila Foundation A’awen program, and the community that rallied together to raise the necessary funds on the A’awen Giving website, Santhoshi was able to undergo the open-heart surgery.

The operation was very successful. Santhoshi is blossoming and looks forward to a bright future with her loving parents.  “We cannot express our appreciation enough and are forever grateful that we were given the chance to be a happy family. Today our baby is healthy and always smiling thanks to the support from Al Jalila Foundation and the community.”

A Filipina mother in the UAE who has lung cancer can now complete her treatment after an initiative covered her remaining medical expenses.

The remaining funds for Grace were secured through a recent agreement between Mahzooz, a weekly draw in the UAE, and Dubai-based Al Jalila Foundation. After learning about Grace’s situation, Mahzooz made the decision to donate the remaining funds, whose amount was not revealed, in addition to Al Jalila Foundation’s planned fundraiser for Grace’s treatment.

Grace needed immediate medical attention to treat the incapacitating symptoms of cancer. An accountant by profession, Grace has been living the UAE since 2007 and had been leading a healthy, busy life, being engaged in active sports up until May 2021, when she started suffering shortness of breath and severe coughing, which is when her cancer diagnosis was confirmed.

Having the Al Jalila Foundation coordinate and organise Grace’s crowdfunding campaign, as well as Mahzooz’s contribution, has enabled Grace to receive the immunotherapy treatment she needs to cure her cancer.

Farid Samji, CEO of Ewings, managing operator of Mahzooz, said: “When we heard about Grace’s case, we knew we had to do something; she’s a young mother and her medical condition would also affect the life of her daughter. While it is a serious disease, we are happy that we can provide for her treatment and hopefully she will make a full recovery.”

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “With the increasing number of cancer cases reported every year around the world, Al Jalila Foundation helps patients unable to afford quality treatment. With the support of our partners and donors like Ewings, every year we can fund life-saving treatment for hundreds of patients in the UAE battling the disease.”

He added: “It is thanks to this community spirit and care that patients like Grace are given a second chance. Studies show that emotional support is integral to the healing journey therefore, in addition to financial medical aid, Al Jalila Foundation also provides emotional support to women with cancer through our Majlis Al Amal community. Grace’s story of hope is testimony that we can all do our part to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients.”

Mahzooz has been Al Jalila Foundation’s CSR partner for several similar cases and together they have sponsored the treatment of patients suffering from serious diseases who were unable to afford treatment.

Note: Grace’s story was published by Gulf News on 26 July 2022.

Al Jalila Foundation celebrated 70 new graduates from the 8th cohort of Ta’alouf Teachers Training program which was delivered in English and Arabic to teachers from all seven Emirates with over 12 nationalities participating in the program.

The one-year teachers training program aims to equip teachers with the knowledge to empower children of determination in their classrooms enabling them to reach their full potential and realise their dreams. This cohort alone has directly impacted 231 students of determination, and indirectly over 11,700 students in the UAE.

The comprehensive training program includes monthly training sessions; participation in professional learning communities; individual mentoring sessions; and participants are required to submit a portfolio prior to graduation.

Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation expressed, “At the heart of Ta’alouf is social inclusion and we are committed to delivering the most effective educational program to improve the lives of children with special needs. We are proud to have had the opportunity to empower teachers on a nation-wide scale and provide them with life-changing skills to ensure a continuum of care between the child’s home and school.”

Al Jalila Foundation, in partnership with Zayed University, has delivered 8 cohorts and trained 548 teachers from 163 government and private schools across the seven emirates, reaffirming its commitment to children of determination and their happiness and wellbeing.

Hajra was born with a life-threatening heart defect and needed urgent open-heart surgery to mend her heart and give her a chance at a brighter future.

Hajra is the only child to her parents who have called the UAE home for 9 years. Unfortunately, they were distressed and overwhelmed as they were unable to support the cost of this life-saving operation for their daughter. However, thanks to Al Jalila Foundation A’awen program, and the community that rallied together to raise the necessary funds on the A’awen Giving website, Hajra was able to undergo the open-heart surgery successfully.

The doctors are very happy with Hajra’s improvements as she was doing very well despite her complex heart surgery. Her heart is in good condition and she is even expected to make a full recovery and be off cardiac medication in a few months.

Her parents cannot express enough gratitude for the support they received, “We want to offer our sincere appreciation to Al Jalila Foundation and all of the donors who helped us to get the critical surgery for our precious daughter. This was her real chance of a healthy future and through A’awen Giving you made it happen so that Hajra can grow up happy and strong by our side.”