A rehabilitation and specialised therapy programme offered by Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Child Development Centre has given a new lease of life to three-year-old Zahrat al-Hayat Mustafa, a baby with Down's syndrome and numerous birth complications.
"I found out that Zahrat had Down's syndrome when I was three months into her pregnancy, due to regular medical check-ups I received at Women’s Hospital,” said Mustafa, Zahrat’s mother.
Because Zahrat had other health problems, such as partial bowel obstruction, two holes in her heart as well as low birth weight, she was kept in the neonatal intensive care unit 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.
Zahrat’s mother said that she started collecting information related to children with Down's syndrome as well as searching for nurseries and appropriate rehabilitation centres before the birth of her child.
“After Zahrat was discharged from the hospital, I was referred to the 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 the nursing service and psychological counselling,” Mustafa said.
She also noted that 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.
Zahrat and her mother's experience throughout her treatment journey can be termed as a source of inspiration for many other children and mothers in similar circumstances. "I left my job and devoted all of my time to Zahrat, and I often forget that she is living with Down's syndrome because I find educating and playing with her a happy and fun-filled time for both of us,” added Zahrat’s mother.
Mustafa said she did not choose games and educational tools for her daughter randomly but looked instead for various learning methods that work for the development of her motor and cognitive skills. She also started to manufacture some of the games herself due to high prices.
Additionally, Zahrat's mother got herself trained in the Montessori system of teaching children from birth to three years, and now she is completing the second stage of the course for teaching children from age three to six. Presently, Zahrat has joined a preschool to help her develop social and communication skills.
Mustafa has also created a Facebook page called "Diary of Zahrat Al Hayat" to show Zahrat’s progress through photos and videos. The page also features useful information on children with Down's syndrome.