News: Newborn stuck in Dubai hospital after mother dies, father unable to pay mounting bills

Little Mohammad Bawazeer needs help urgently.

The baby was born prematurely under the most trying circumstances on October 25 after his mother Kauser Nahdi, 21, who was visiting Dubai, slipped and fell on a pavement and subsequently died of complications.

Two and a half months later, Mohammad remains in a hospital in Dubai as his father tries desperately to raise money to get him discharged. “I am desperate. Please, please, help bring my son home,” said Shaikh Syed Bawazeer, 30, who owes Al Baraha Hospital Dh191,830 as of January 8.

Bawazeer has not had time to grieve over his wife’s sudden loss. “The last three months have been a terrible nightmare. My wife’s death is yet to sink in and I am yet to get my son’s birth registered. I want to get him discharged from the hospital first,” he said.

A storekeeper, Bawazeer said his pregnant wife and their first child (one-year-old daughter) were visiting him from their hometown Hyderabad in India when the accident occurred. “They arrived in September and we extended the visit as we wanted to spend Eid together. We were all scheduled to return to India on November 4, but that was not to be.”

He said Kauser, who was with relatives for dinner in Hor Al Anz on October 24, slipped and fell on the footpath while returning home, following which she complained of acute pain in her abdomen. She was rushed to Al Baraha Hospital where she underwent an emergency C-section to save the baby, just 27 weeks old and 990gm then.
As fate would have it, his wife developed complications and died on November 11, leaving the family in a state of shock.

MASSIVE BLOW

“I couldn’t have imagined such a blow, especially after I lost my 19-year-old brother who died of a heart attack five years ago,” said Bawazeer, who flew down with his wife’s body for the funeral in Hyderabad, even as his newborn battled it out in hospital by himself. “Our daughter is now with my parents and in-laws back home,” he added.

Bawazeer, who earns Dh4,100 a month, said he is the only breadwinner in his family and cannot come up with the money to pay the hospital. He said he had already borrowed from family and friends and knocked on the doors of charities to pay for the unexpected delivery. “We were not prepared because the delivery was due in India in January. I really do not know how I can pay around Dh200,000/$55,000  now for my son’s discharge. I pray to the Almighty to help me and my son. I earnestly appeal to Good Samaritans to help me pay the dues and also authorities to consider a waiver.

Every passing day is costing an additional Dh2,200.”

He said a new mother had volunteered to provide breast milk for Mohammad who was in the able hands of doctors at Al Baraha Hospital.

“He was initially in a critical condition, but became stable and was ready for discharge on January 5. “I just want to bring him home but cannot do it without help,” he said.

If you wish to help Mohammed, write to editor@xpress4me.com or contact Mohammed Bawazeer on 055-3160270 or 055-7006143.