Eman Ahmed healing ‘3 times faster than planned’ can open bottle, play with ball

Mumbai city news: Eman has started moving her lower limbs for the first time since she stopped two-and-a-half-years ago

Egyptian Eman Ahmed can now open a water bottle, play with a ball and talk to her doctors. Sharing a video of the former “world’s heaviest woman”, doctors of Burjeel Hospital said she was continuing her “streak of miraculous recovery and healing three times faster than they planned”.

Eman with her family members at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi. (HT File Photo)

Dr Yassin El Shahat, chief medical officer of Abu Dhabi-based Burjeel Hospital, said Eman will be able to feed herself and use an electric wheelchair after stage two of her treatment, in which she is expected to lose more weight by following a strict diet.

“We have observed her and noted the impressive improvement in her medical condition. This is unprecedented. She hasn’t been like this seen since she suffered a stroke two-and-a-half years ago. Now, we will implement phase 2 of her treatment,” said Dr Shahat.

More than 20 health care professionals were assigned to evaluate Eman and chart a treatment plan, which was divided into three stages. Doctors had planned to treat Eman’s acute issues — including her urinary tract infection, bedsores, rehabilitation, speech therapy — and provide her with psychological support within three months, as part of phase 1. Reports suggest that she achieved these targets within a month.

“We modified and decreased the dosage of the antiepileptic and anticoagulation medication and started using more advanced medications, according to the latest international guidelines. We are planning to stop these medications too, gradually guided by the good results,” Dr Shahat said, referring to Eman’s neurological condition.

He added that Eman’s therapist and family members had noticed an improvement in her speech. “She has started moving her lower limbs for the first time since she stopped two-and-a-half-years ago,” he added.

He said Eman’s arms were getting stronger and she was using them freely. “She is able to sit on her bed and in the wheelchair for longer stretches now,” he said.

“She can ingest food via the mouth for the first time since her stroke. We have started feeding her twice a day. The next step is to give her oral medications and get rid of her nasogastric tube,” Dr Shahat said.

Doctors said she was suffering from infected bedsores when she arrived in Abu Dhabi. These have improved by 75% under supervision of the consultant plastic surgeon.

After phase 2 has been implemented, doctors will look at long-term plans for Eman. “Corrective surgeries for Eman’s lower limbs, plastic surgery for her redundant skin and a possible aortic valve replacement are on the cards,” added doctors.