DUBAI // A Filipino boy born with rare heart condition that left him barely able to walk can now run, play and even play basketball after a life-changing operation.
Gil Gatdula Junior, 10, was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot soon after he was born in Cebu in the Philippines.
His parents, Gil Senior and Mercedita, who moved to Dubai six years ago, could not afford the cost of the surgery, which was estimated at Dh60,000 to Dh70,000.
So, they appealed to their church, St Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubai, to seek funding for Gil. After an appeal in a newspaper article for help, the Dr Moopen’s Foundation charity and the Aster Medcity hospital stepped in to fund the costs.
Now, Gil Junior is recovering in Dubai after receiving open-heart surgery in Kochi, India.
“Before the operation, Gil would not be able to walk even a few steps without fainting. Now, he can do anything he wants,” said Gil’s mother, a teaching assistant. “He was overwhelmed after the surgery and said to me ‘I can fly and touch the sky.’”
Ms Gatdula said although he was in pain after the operation, he is making a good recovery.
She said he also looking forward to being able to play basketball with his elder brothers, who are 25 and 27 years old.
“We hope to send Gil to school next year. He has asked us to take him to the beach as he wants to play in the sand but we are waiting for the weather to cool down before we can take him there,” she said.
The costs of surgery and follow-up care were born by the foundation.
Usually it helps pay for surgery for children in other parts of the world, so Gil is the first case they have funded in Dubai.
“When we heard about Gil’s condition two months ago we reached out to the family and wanted to help. It was possible for us to do the operation in Kochi and the family wouldn’t have to wait,” said Dr Azad Moopen, chairman of Aster DM Healthcare.
He said this was also an opportunity to give something back to the Filipino community as 20 per cent of the staff at his hospital are from the Philippines.
During the three-and-a-half hour surgery, Gil’s heart was stopped while the procedure was undertaken.
Ms Gatdula said she was overwhelmed by the kindness of the medical staff, whom she referred to as “miracle workers.”
“Everyone here and even our family back home in Philippines have been so supportive towards us,” she said.
“I prayed and cried and had tears of joy when I saw Gil walk. I would keep stopping him because I was worried about him but the doctors said he could walk and even run now. He has been cured completely.”
Tetralogy of Fallot is a rare, congenital heart defect that affects approximately five out of every 10,000 people.
Sufferers are born with four anatomical abnormalities in their heart, including defects in the wall separating the two ventricles, narrowing of the valve which regulates blood flow, a problem with the artery and thickening of the wall within the right ventricle. This results in low oxygenation of blood, which can cause fainting if they undertake too much physical activity.
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
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What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
