DOHA: A rehabilitation and specialised therapy programme offered by Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Child Development Centre has given a new lease on life to many children with the disorder in the country.
Among them is three-year-old Zahrat Al Hayat Mustafa with Down Syndrome and birth complications.
“I found that Zahrat had Down Syndrome when I was three months into her pregnancy during regular medical check-ups I received at Women’s Hospital,” said Mustafa, Zahrat’s mother.
“I followed up and regularly checked on her health condition until her birth at the hospital where she received the best and highest standard of medical and psychological care.”
Because Zahrat had other health problems, such as partial bowel obstruction, two holes in her heart and low birth weight, she was kept in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for around 20 days after her birth.
During her hospital stay, Zahrat underwent surgery to close one of the holes in her heart and she overcame the partial bowel obstruction. However, she still has the second hole in her heart. “I was shocked at first when I learned that Zahrat had Down Syndrome, particularly because she is my first child, but I thanked God.
“However, with the passing of time, I began to accept the situation and prepare myself to receive her from NICU,” the mother said.
“After Zahrat was discharged from the hospital, I was referred to Child Development Centre at Rumailah Hospital and began her journey of rehabilitation and treatment. She joined the centre when she was six months and is still being assisted by distinguished specialists in various fields ranging from physiotherapy, occupational health, speech and language therapy, as well as special education services with nursing service and psychological counselling,” said Mustafa.
She said though it took her daughter up to two years to walk, she progressed remarkably well in her cognitive development as she was quickly able to recognise things, learn sounds and say some simple words.
To have the right capabilities and be able to look after her daughter well, Zahrat’s mother got herself trained in the Montessori system of teaching children from birth to three years.
Now she is completing the second stage of the course for teaching children from age three to six.
Zahrat has joined a pre-school to help her develop social and communication skills. Mustafa has also created a Facebook page ‘Diary of Zahrat Al Hayat’ to show Zahrat’s progress through photos and videos. It also features useful information on children with Down Syndrome.
The Peninsula
