As a mother, Khuloud Al Wahibi was compelled to leave her job despite her reluctance. Her departure was necessitated by the arrival of her firstborn, Abdullah. Learning of his serious congenital condition from her doctor, one that posed the threat of kidney failure or worse, Khuloud made the difficult choice to prioritize caring for her newborn over her career.
Thus began Khuloud's five-year journey of self-discovery and resilience. Formerly a successful financial accountant in a local bank, she now found herself immersed in the world of neonatal intensive care, watching over Abdullah as he lay in his incubator surrounded by medical equipment, his tiny form vulnerable to his condition's uncertainties.
In the initial days, Khuloud shuttled between home and hospital, keeping a vigilant eye on her son's progress in the ICU. Amidst her anguish, she delved into research, consulting medical professionals and seeking solace in her faith, grappling with the profound challenges thrust upon her.
Khuloud has to set aside her grief and worry and focus more what she can do for her child. She quizzed doctors and nurses about everything that they do related to her child's care and the more that she asked and inquire, the more she was coming to term about her son's condition.
The onset of the pandemic only heightened Khuloud's ordeal.
Doctors discovered in the midst of the Covid pandemic that one of her son's kidneys was not functioning at all, but they refused to operate for fear of complications from the pandemic. However, Khuloud refused to give up and tried to persuade the doctors do what was necessary in order to save her son's life. After continuous refusal, she relied on God, confident that good may come after this, as it is God who has kept her son alive to this day and can extend his life longer.
After a few days of relying on God, Khuloud received a call from her son's doctor informing her that her son had been placed on the list of patients to undergo the operation. As her son grew older and reached his fifth year, Khuloud discovered her strength and ability to face challenges and became convinced that God is the Healer.
One day, she was called to the hospital by the nuclear medicine department, and before entering the treatment room, Khuloud felt fear and anxiety, but Abdullah's little smile gave her the strength to face the difficulties and to believe that all this was for the benefit of this little one.
Upon entering, Khuloud was told that the doctors have to conduct nuclear medicine where Abdulllah will be injected with a radioactive substances which will illuminate everything inside the little child, allowing doctors to see the torn kidney. The doctor asked the family for permission to start the kidney operation.
Khuloud and her husband immediately conducted the initial tests to see if one of them was compatible and if they could donate that kidney to Abdullah, or if they could find a donor who could do so.
In this long journey, Khuloud discovered herself, and in this ordeal, she knew her true friends and relatives.
During coaching and training, Khuloud joined a group that inspired and guided her. Abdullah's influence revealed new aspects of herself. She learned about God, His creation, and the trials He gives us, believing in patience, faith, and divine guidance. This journey led to Khuloud's self-discovery and a belief in God's guiding light for believers.
(Photos are AI-generated and for illustration purposes only).
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