Eman Ahmed growing self-reliant, recovery roadmap planned

MUMBAI: Eman Ahmed, the 36-year-old Egyptian who, until three months ago, was believed to be the heaviest woman in the world, has been showing several signs of improvement after she was shifted to Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi from Mumbai's Saifee Hospital last month.

Eman is now able to raise her right arm (against gravity) since her first stroke two years ago. Also, instead of being fed through a food pipe, she has been eating normally for the past three months, helping herself to almost half of each meal all by herself.

With VPS Healthcare lead-managing Eman's treatment, a multi-disciplinary team of 20 doctors planning Eman's current phase of treatment have drawn up a three-stage model for her recovery.

While the short-term plan envisages treating acute problems like UTI, bedsores, rehabilitation, speech therapy and psychological support, the mid-term phase focuses on her rehabilitation and the long term plan envisages corrective surgeries on Eman's lower limbs and plastic surgery to remove loose skin followed by a possible aortic valve replacement.