I donated Zahia’s organs to give new life to patients who needed them

The tragedy of losing the Emirati child (Zahia) turned into a story of hope and life, when her father, Salem Mohammed Al Mansouri, decided to donate her organs after her death to save the lives of others, in a step that embodied the highest meanings of giving and compassion in the UAE society.

The father of the child (Zahia) donated her organs after her death, as her heart gave a new life to a child from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who is currently living a normal life, and her kidneys contributed to saving the lives of two other people, turning the tragedy of her loss into a message of hope and giving that spreads life and smiles in the hearts of others.

The father told Emirates Today that the tragedy of losing his five-year-old daughter turned into a source of life for others, explaining that she was born healthy, but upon reaching her fifth year, she suffered liver failure, and as a result of health complications she entered a coma and spent a period in intensive care, before doctors confirmed her brain death.

He added: “After the doctors talked to me about donating her organs to other children to give them a new life, I immediately agreed because I had experienced the pain of loss, and I wanted to turn moments of pain into hope for others.” He continued: “I expected to save one person, but (Zahia) saved the lives of three people with her heart and kidneys.”

He said that the heart went to a Saudi child named (Faisal), who was moving between hospitals as a result of his suffering from heart problems, but he improved a lot after the operation, and he is currently in very good health. He goes to school, plays and lives a normal life. He continued: “I saw him last week, and I felt that he was close to me, as if he were my son, because his body contained a part of my daughter, and in turn he did not feel like a stranger to me, and he stayed by my side all the time.”

Regarding the memories with his daughter, he said: “I saw love and innocence in her. I do not forget the moments of her getting into the car, and her simple words that filled the heart with joy. These situations are still fresh in my mind.”

Al Mansouri affirmed his pride in the donation initiative, saying: “I am personally proud that my daughter left a mark of goodness in this world, and thank God her place is in heaven. This donation was a message of hope and life, spreading smiles on the faces of other people.” The father praised the efforts of the team of the National Program for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues “Hayat.”

He said, “The officials and doctors provided all the support and medical capabilities to achieve this hope,” pointing out that “the (Hayat) program is a humanitarian initiative that shows the value of giving and compassion in our society in the Emirates.”

For his part, the head of the National Committee for Organ Donation and Transplantation in the Emirates, Dr. Ali Al-Obaidli, confirmed that the father’s position and the story of the child (Zahia) represents an inspiring model of human values ​​in the Emirates, pointing out that organ donation is not just a medical procedure, but rather a message of hope and belief that life continues through others.

He said when a person loses a loved one, the decision becomes difficult, but full cooperation between medical teams and the family makes the decision possible and facilitates donation safely and professionally.

He continued that there are stories like Zahia’s story that remind us that every human being can be the reason for another person’s life, because the organ donation initiative is a message of giving that inspires society and enhances the culture of humanity.

Al-Obaidli added: “My message to people like Salem is to be role models for society, and that we all benefit from these initiatives, to encourage others to think about donating as a noble humanitarian act. We also call on everyone to pay attention to health prevention and early awareness of diseases, because every step of prevention is considered life support before it is a cure.”

Zahia’s story embodies a pioneering model of giving, as the pain of her loss is transformed into a new life for others, expressing the profound humanitarian message that the “Hayat” program seeks to establish in society, and demonstrating the family’s ability to transform tragedy into hope and life.