As a young mother, Mariam moved to the UAE with her husband and children to begin a new life. Three decades later and now retired, the couple love watching their grandchildren grow up close to them in the Emirates.
The COVID-19 pandemic had been difficult for many and particularly the elderly like Mariam and her husband who are at high risk. In April 2020, Mariam felt pain on her tongue but due to the fear of contracting the virus she hesitated to go to the doctor. However, after two months of being unable to eat or drink she visited the doctor and it was confirmed that she had a malignant cancerous tumour that needed to be removed right away.
The family were in shock and were at a loss for how they would financially manage to support Mariam’s treatment, as her husband’s health was also deteriorating and he needed an urgent heart operation.
The family found the support they desperately needed from Al Jalila Foundation and Mariam was able to undergo a successful operation removing the tumour completely. Today Mariam is in very good health and her family is grateful to have many more days to spend with their beloved mother and grandmother.