ABU DHABI // She was a little shy when she first took the microphone, but once Maitha Alarai started singing, she melted the hearts of hundreds who helped fulfil her wish of being a princess for a day.
The eight-year-old, who has a rare congenital disease, sang for family, friends and staff the theme song from Beauty and the Beast – while dressed up as the main character from the show, Belle, complete with a yellow ball gown and sparkly tiara.
Maitha has nemaline myopathy, which affects her ability to move, speak and breathe, and has caused skeletal deformities.
“There used to be nothing wrong with Maitha,” her mother said.
“She would ride her bicycle, swim, run and play like most children.
“When she was young, doctors told us she had muscle weakness, but she could still do everything.”
A year ago, however, her condition worsened and she was admitted full-time at ProVita International Medical Centre.
The centre, which provides medical and rehabilitative care, is one of only three private long-term healthcare centres in Abu Dhabi.
It specialises in treating chronically ill paediatric and adult patients who require continuous medical intervention.
Maitha now requires a ventilator and wheelchair and leaves the centre only to attend school and visit her family on weekends.
When she told staff at ProVita that her wish was to become a princess, they contacted the Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE, which helps to grant wishes to children.
On Wednesday, Maitha was taken to a hairdresser to have her hair and make-up done.
"We couldn't believe it," Maitha's mother said. "Maitha still thinks it was a dream. "They got her Belle's dress from Beauty and the Beast because she said it was her favourite."
She was later taken to the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Al Maqta for what Maitha said “was the most wonderful time in her life”.
About 200 people, including the entire staff of the hotel and ProVita and all her classmates from school, were lined up at the entrance to greet her on her arrival.
“As soon as my daughter entered, they all started clapping and threw flowers at her, she was truly a princess for a day,” her mother said.
“There are no words to describe how we felt.
“Maitha’s eyes shone with happiness, something we hadn’t seen in a long, long time. I was crying the whole time.”
Maitha said her second wish was to be off the ventilator and to start walking again.
“I want to walk,” she said.
“I want to play with my friends. I want it to be like before.”
salnuwais@thenational.ae
*Additional reporting by Delores Johnson
