With support from Al Jalila Foundation, which enables Dubai Health’s vision to advance health for humanity, eight-year-old Mohammad Saalim has returned to his daily life following surgery for a congenital heart defect. Mohammad was diagnosed at birth with a hole in the heart, a condition that occurs in approximately two in every 1,000 people. Since then, he has been under the care of Dubai Health’s Al Jalila Children’s Hospital (AJCH), receiving regular cardiac check-ups before undergoing surgery in January 2026. The surgery was performed by a specialized team at AJCH led by Dr. Issam El Rassi, Consultant in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, and Dr. Mohamed Kasem, Consultant in Pediatric Cardiology.
Dr. Mohamed Kasem said: “Mohammad was born with a five-millimeter hole in the heart, located between the right and left sides near the aortic valve. It is an uncommon condition, occurring in around two in every 1,000 people. Over time, the hole began to affect the movement of the valve, with part of it being pulled inward. Surgery was therefore needed to prevent this from affecting the valve’s function in the future. The surgery was successful, and the hole was completely closed without any complications or impact on the valve or heart muscle. Mohammad was discharged from the hospital five days later in good health”.
The child’s father expressed his gratitude to Al Jalila Foundation for supporting his son’s treatment, and to the medical team at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital for the care and attention they provided throughout his journey. He shared his happiness at seeing his son doing well and returning to his daily life following the successful treatment and ongoing follow-up.
