15,000 Omani riyals for transplant boy liver

Thanks to the large-hearted response from Gulf News readers, four-year-old Indian expatriate boy from Oman, Mohammad Zaid, can now see bright light at the end of a dark tunnel. "We have so far received over 15,000 Omani riyals (Dh142,000) and we are leaving for India for Zaid's liver transplant surgery," the child's father Mohammad Zakir told Gulf News Thursday. Zakir thanked Gulf News readers for extending a helping hand in his hour of distress. The Health Ministry employee from Ibra town in Oman had exhausted all efforts to raise 20,000 Omani riyals, overall expense for the liver transplant that would give his son a new lease of life. Article continues below "After Gulf News carried the article about my son, I have received money in my bank account from as far as Bahrain," he said, adding that he was overwhelmed by the response from readers after reading about his woes. A social worker, who coordinated the fund-raising for Zaid's surgery, said that a small child refused gifts for his birthday and instead asked guests to donate cash to help Zaid. "I was touched by the child's gesture and values inculcated by the parents," she said preferring anonymity for herself as well the child. Dr P. C. Alexander, Paediatric Consultant who treats Zaid at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) Hospital, told Gulf News that the funds raised so far may be just good enough for the surgery. "We don't want to keep fund-raising open ended although two million rupees [around 18,000 Omani riyals] would be needed for overall expenses," he said. Donor According to the SQU Hospital doctor, one of the parents would be the ideal donor. "The parents' siblings can also donate but there would be more legal formalities and the whole process could get delayed," he clarified. "I am diabetic but hopefully doctors will clear me after screening, otherwise my wife will donate," Zakir said, adding in emotional voice that following the tremendous response from the readers, the least he and his wife could do is donate their liver to their son. "Insha'allah, our son's ordeal will soon end thanks to kind-hearted people in this region," he said. Zaid has been diagnosed with Tyrosinemia type I with liver cirrhosis and improved renal fanconi syndrome with rickets.