DUBAI // Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has pledged the perfect present for a little girl’s first birthday – the gift of life.
Sheikh Mohammed, also Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, will provide funds for a life-saving liver transplant for Aleeyah Carungay, who turns one next week.
On Monday The National reported that Aleeyah, who has a potentially fatal congenital liver disease, was clinging to life in a Philippine hospital’s intensive care unit.
On Tuesday, her mother Grace Carungay fought back tears as she spoke of the help offered by Sheikh Mohammed.
“I couldn’t believe it when I was told His Highness wanted to help,” said Mrs Carungay, 32, a receptionist in Abu Dhabi who comes from the Philippines.
“I can’t thank him enough for what he has done for my family with this donation.”
For months she has been trying to raise the Dh160,000 needed for surgery in the Philippines.
“I’m just waiting to hear back from them now but I feel God has blessed me,” Mrs Carungay said.
“I’ve been praying to God and I knew help would come, but this is just amazing.
“The generosity of people who don’t know me or my family but have been willing to help has been overwhelming.”
Mrs Carungay was told to prepare the documents on her daughter’s condition and give details of the funds needed.
Aleeyah had biliary atresia diagnosed after her mother noticed she was jaundiced when she was two months old.
The disease causes inflammation in the bile ducts, leading to duct damage that reduces the flow of bile and scars the liver.
Bile carries toxins and waste out of the body and helps it to digest fats and absorb vitamins.
Aleeyah is constantly in and out of hospital in Manila, where doctors have to put her on a drip to help her body drain the fluid.
Mrs Carungay’s sister is willing to donate liver tissue for the transplant operation, which could now happen in a matter of weeks.
“I’m now planning to fly back to the Philippines on Thursday to speak to Aleeyah’s doctors and discuss her treatment,” the mother said.
“She also turns 1 next week and I want to be there for her birthday.”
Before the operation can take place, Aleeyah needs to increase her weight from 7.1kg to about 8kg.
“Hopefully, once that happens she can have the transplant as soon as possible because the doctors have told me that the longer we leave it, the more difficult it will be for her,” Mr Carungay said.
Efforts to raise funds for the operation proved a limited success, with much of the money raised being used to pay for Aleeyah’s repeated hospital visits.
“She is in and out of hospital three or four times a week because the disease makes her very sick,” said Mrs Carungay.
“That was the worst part, because the longer we left it, the more the money we raised was having to go on her medical bills.”
Aleeyah’s condition is further exacerbated because she cannot digest normal baby milk, so a special version has to be imported at a cost Dh2,200 for a 400-gram tin.
“We initially planned to have the transplant in May but now that the funding will be in place soon we can do it sooner,” said Mrs Carungay.
“But it is a major operation. Now I’m praying that she can come through it successfully.”
nhanif@thenational.ae
