ABU DHABI // In a matter of weeks at the beginning of this year, Abdul Rahman al Khatib went from fighting fit to fighting for his life. The usually healthy accountant began to lose weight and started to suffer from severe fatigue, vomiting and loss of appetite.
His first thought was that an old health problem from 20 years back, when he suffered from chronic migraines, had returned to haunt him and that he was paying the price for what had been a heavy reliance on painkillers. In fact, his kidneys were failing and Mr Khatib was destined to become one of the nation's first transplant patients. Referred urgently to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, at first he was put on dialysis for four hours a day, a physically and emotionally draining procedure that left him bedridden for three months.
"I was admitted to hospital for three weeks and was put on dialysis for three months, which was a tough experience," he said. "It was a really frightening time." After the three-month course of dialysis failed to work, doctors and family advised Mr Khatib to opt for transplant surgery. His seven children offered to donate to their father, as did neighbours and friends. A kidney from a relative is the best option as there is less chance of rejection and the patient will not have to take as much immunosuppressive medicine.
In the event, it was his son Rawad, 29, a computer engineer, who proved a perfect match. The complicated and risky procedure went without a hitch and, within hours, the transplanted kidney began doing its job. "I believe in God and I really trusted the team," said Mr Khatib. "I was more worried about my son than I was for myself. I'm very proud of my son. "I'm just glad to be back to my life the way I was before I became sick."
Before the transplant, he said, "I suffered a lot. I wasn't working or living like a normal person. It was like a half-life. I was so tired all the time." Mr Khatib is now preparing to return to work at the Ministry of Information and Culture, but will be on medication for the rest of his life and has to make some changes to his lifestyle. On the advice of medical staff, he is going to take up swimming and avoid pasteurised foods. Pure honey and grapefruit are also banned as they will react badly with his anti-rejection medicines.
"There were times when I was very worried," he said. "But now, life is back to normal and it's like a new start." @Email:mswan@thenational.ae
