The UAE chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted 250 wishes for seriously ill children at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), since teaming up with the Abu Dhabi-based hospital in 2010.

 

SKMC, managed by Cleveland Clinic, is part of the Seha Health System and owned and operated by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha), which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in Abu Dhabi.

 

Dr Aref Al Shehhi, deputy chief executive officer at SKMC, said: “Working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to bring smiles to our children with life-threatening conditions has been a true pleasure. We consider the foundation a partner in hope - we’ve seen the joy that the granted wishes bring our courageous patients.”

 

The first ever wish, granted in December 2010, and was requested by child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, who had desired a laptop from a young age.

 

Hani Al Zubaid, CEO of the foundation’s UAE chapter, said: “It is a pleasure to work with the doctors and staff at SKMC as they are very co-operative and always willing to help the Make-A-Wish staff and volunteers.”

 

“The Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE team is looking forward to granting more wishes and making them come true.  Under the patronage of Sheikha Sheikha Bin Saif Al Nahyan, president of Make-A-Wish UAE, honorary chairman and lifetime patron the foundation has granted more than 1,000 wishes to date and are delighted to be able to continue granting many more.  Our mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy,” Al Zubaid added.

 

The wishes granted included to have items such as laptops, iPad or a bedroom, to go to places like Disneyland, Emirates Palace and the umrah pilgrimage to Makkah, and wishes to be a doctor, a princess, a policeman and a professional photographer.

 

Dr Abdulmajeed Al Zubaidi, chief medical officer, SKMC, said: “Caring for an ill child is more than just providing a hospital bed and medical care, but also approaching their care from a holistic, compassionate viewpoint and enriching their lives with hope, joy and strength.” - TradeArabia News Service