Housebound for 25 years, Eman Ahmed Abdulati arrived in Mumbai on February 11, 2017, to undergo a weight reduction programme. Hundreds of curious Mumbaikars had thronged the airport for a glimpse of Eman after she landed at the cargo terminal of Mumbai's international airport. Eman Ahmed had suffered a stroke that left her bedridden for 25 years. She had also developed a series of ailments including diabetes and high blood pressure.
Eman was lifted from the cargo aircraft with the help of a crane and put in a truck that took her to Saifee Hospital in Charni Road, Mumbai.
Bariatric surgeon Dr Muffazal Lakdawala who treated Eman Ahmed Abdulati in Mumbai was consulting with experts from across the world that included the best of the brains in the field of bariatric surgery from America, England and Australia. Eman's family had contacted many doctors across the world but finally chose India for her surgery. Dr Lakdawala in an exclusive interview to mid-day admitted that it was risky to operate Eman Ahmed Abdulati, as she weighed over 500 kgs and suffered from a number of ailments.
Bariatric surgeon Dr Muffazal Lakdawala who treated Eman Ahmed Abdulati in Mumbai was consulting with experts from across the world that included the best of the brains in the field of bariatric surgery from America, England and Australia. Eman's family had contacted many doctors across the world but finally chose India for her surgery. Dr Lakdawala in an exclusive interview to mid-day admitted that it was risky to operate Eman Ahmed Abdulati, as she weighed over 500 kgs and suffered from a number of ailments.
Maintaining the health parameters and declaring Eman Ahmed Abulati fit for surgery was a challenging task for the team of physicians, especially the anaesthesiologists. Eman was diagnosed with a series of health issues and a team of 13 specialists monitored her health round the clock.
Eman Ahmed Abdulati was kept in a 1,000 sq feet room on the first-floor of Saifee Hospital in Mumbai's Charni Road area. The room was was centrally air-conditioned, had all life-saving equipment and other facility required. Interestingly, the room was earlier the accounts office that was dismantled for her treatment.
To even qualify for the life-saving bariatric surgery Eman Ahmed Abdulati had to lose 50 kgs in 25 days. It was a big challenge for the team treating her as they had to come up with ways which would have required Eman to drop a seemingly impossible 2 kgs every day. Following a liquid diet and regular physiotherapy, Eman Ahmed Abdulati shed the extra weight. In fact, to the surprise of everyone, she lost double the weight that made her a suitable candidate for bariatric surgery.
Finally, the most eagerly awaited surgery of Egyptian national Eman Ahmed Abdulati, touted to be the world's heaviest woman at 500 kg, finally took place on March 7, 2017 in Mumbai.
Dr Muffazal Lakdawala and his team performed a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on Eman Ahmed Abdulati who was already a 100 kg lighter at the time thanks to a strict liquid diet regiment.
The literal and metaphorical journey of Eman Ahmed Abdulati, the world's heaviest woman, was by no means easy, but neither it was a walk in the park for her sister Shaima, who, in spite of everything, had remained by her side like a rock. Shaima, an engineer, stopped working just to take care of Eman. But more than that, she also took the tough decision to leave her two-year-old daughter behind in Alexandria, Egypt.
However, in April 2017, Eman Ahmed Abdulati's sister Shaimaa alleged that her sister's condition had worsened after her surgery on March 7. She alleged that Eman Ahmed Abdulati has been suffering from seizures every alternate day since - prior to her arrival in India, her last seizure was three years ago, which caused a stroke - and has stopped being her cheery self. Eman Ahmed Abdulati's mother too levelled shocking allegations against Saifee and Dr Muffazal Lakdawala and his team. Eman's mother Thanaa Ahmed released a scathing video reiterating Shaimaa's accusations and pleaded for help.
However, in April 2017, Eman Ahmed Abdulati's sister Shaimaa alleged that her sister's condition had worsened after her surgery on March 7. She alleged that Eman Ahmed Abdulati has been suffering from seizures every alternate day since - prior to her arrival in India, her last seizure was three years ago, which caused a stroke - and has stopped being her cheery self. Eman Ahmed Abdulati's mother too levelled shocking allegations against Saifee and Dr Muffazal Lakdawala and his team. Eman's mother Thanaa Ahmed released a scathing video reiterating Shaimaa's accusations and pleaded for help.
On May 4, 2017, Mumbai's tryst with Egyptian national Eman Ahmed Abdulati came to an end when she was discharged from Charni Road's Saifee Hospital for further treatment in Abu Dhabi. Eman Ahmed Abdulati, who was reported to have weighed close to 500 kg on arrival to Mumbai, lost more than 330 kilograms after five months of treatment in Mumbai.
In July 2017, Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi had said that Eman Ahmed Abdulati had 'gradually recovered' and had managed to lose 65 kgs since she entered the hospital as an inbound patient. The hospital said that during the eighty days of treatment, the Egyptian woman was able to sit in a wheelchair and move her arms.
In July 2017, Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi had said that Eman Ahmed Abdulati had 'gradually recovered' and had managed to lose 65 kgs since she entered the hospital as an inbound patient. The hospital said that during the eighty days of treatment, the Egyptian woman was able to sit in a wheelchair and move her arms.
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