Eman Ahmed's doctor Dr Muffazal Lakdawala – A victim or a hero?

What or how would you feel if someone remains ungrateful and unthankful to you despite your utmost efforts? Obviously, you feel 'hurt' when your altruistic actions are not truly cherished or valued.

I am sure this is exactly what our doctors at the Saifee hospital in Mumbai have in their minds. I believe Eman Ahmed Abd Al Aty's doctors are not seeking external gratitude, but reinforcing a better sense of appreciation and regard which her family failed to do so.

Instead, Eman’s sister Shaimma called Dr Muffazal Lakdawala a 'liar', while her mother alleged him of making false promises and taking advantage of Eman's condition to gain publicity.

That did not disappoint Dr Lakdawala's care towards Eman, he continued to give his service doing what's best for his patient.

Perhaps, the Maharashtra Health Minister Deepak Sawant's comments criticising Eman's sister of being 'ungrateful' clearly revealed the fantastic job done by the hospital and the doctors. Whatever best they could do, they did in the case of Eman.

Till the time she was in India, what was witnessed was a drama of allegations and counter allegations. Her last hours at the hospital did not end without some high drama after Shaimaa refused to sign some legal clause as part of the transfer process.

But many were taken aback when an unapologetic Shaimaa suddenly thanked India and the doctors for treating her sibling. A teary Shaimaa, however, refused to comment about Saifee Hospital or bariatric surgeon Dr Lakdawala, who operated on Eman helping her to shed more than 300kg in just over two months - indeed a feather in his cap.

The remarkable weight loss story of Eman, once known as the world's heaviest woman, made global headlines. From breaking down a wall in her house to have her lifted out of the room using a crane to chartering a special cargo plane fitted with medical equipment to fly her to Mumbai from her home in Alexandria, Egypt, for her treatment – none of this was without risk.

The 37-year-old Egyptian woman, who weighed more than 500kgs until she came to Mumbai on February 11, had not walked in more than 25 years. According to Dr Lakdawala, Eman had multiple health issues including severe uncontrolled hypothyroidism, right-sided heart failure, kidney and liver failure, obstructive and restrictive lung disease, gout, bed sores, urinary tract infection, right-sided paralysis and inability to speak coherently or swallow liquids.

Today, Eman weighs 176kgs (down 324 kgs) and is like any other obese person. Doctors said her thyroid levels are controlled, her kidney and liver tests are as good as any of us, her lung functions and oxygen levels are normal without any need of external oxygen.

In fact, she has left India the healthiest she has been in the last decade or so.

So, what's Shaimma grumbling for? What else does she want?

That being said, unfortunately, people today are becoming less content, ignoring true blessings. They just rumble about the one thing you haven't done for them, instead of being indebted for the thousands of things you have done for them or be grateful for every little last thing that you have or receive in life.

Because no human is perfect, one figures this might well be the case of Shaimaa.

Dr Muffazal Lakdawala seems to have given his best in order to avoid putting any burdens on Eman's family and was truly a blessing in disguise, which Shaimaa needs to appreciate and recognise.

One would think that the publicity Eman has been receiving ever since she came into the limelight because of her weight is being taken undue advantage of.

Not only has this put the entire Indian medical fraternity under a bad light, it also raises questions on a patient-doctor relationship, which is purely based on trust and confidence.

Even though many doctors around the world prefer to hide their emotions, Dr Lakdawala whole-heartedly embraced Eman as his own and offered her his complete attention, which Shaimaa dismissed as mere publicity.

Eman, who underwent a successful bariatric surgery on March 7 where doctors reduced her stomach size in the procedure, has now been shifted to Burjeel Hospital, a part of VPS Healthcare group, for her further treatment.