Azhari El Nour endured kidney problems for years - until a transplant from his devoted wife transformed his life.
The 58-year-old knew it was only a matter of time before he suffered renal failure and faced the pain of dialysis and, eventually, surgery.
Mr El Nour said: "My appendix burst, and while doctors were examining me after the surgery, they found out that my kidneys were not functioning properly and that my toxicity levels were too high."
Doctors gave him medication and monitored his progress.
"My kidneys continued to deteriorate and in May 2007, they completely failed," said Mr El Nour. "From that moment, I started dialysis at Dubai Hospital." The procedure, which involves removing waste and unwanted water from the blood, saw Mr El Nour hooked up to a dialysis machine three times a week for five-hour sessions.
"Sometimes I'd feel nauseated and weak, and my haemoglobin levels would suddenly drop, resulting in extreme fatigue," he said. "I was the breadwinner but I found it very difficult to fulfil my daily job requirements. It was a very stressful period in my life."
While Mr El Nour, who is Sudanese, was receiving treatment, his immunity decreased. He developed a bacterial infection in his right eye and began losing his vision. He saw an ophthalmologist at Welcare Hospital and had specialised surgery. But before the procedure, a nephrologist, a kidney specialist, had to review his condition.
"The doctor told me continuous dialysis wouldn't last, that my life would always be very difficult," said Mr El Nour. "He told me I must look for a kidney transplant and advised me to look for close relatives."
Mr El Nour's wife, Amani, who is also his first cousin, did not think twice about donating her kidney.
After giving a blood sample, the doctor found she was a match.
"My wife told the doctor, 'This is my husband, I love him dearly and will donate my kidney to him'," said Mr El Nour. "I told my wife that this is my own problem and that I didn't want her to become a part of it. But she wouldn't accept it - she insisted that she'd donate her kidney to me."
With no transplant programme in the UAE at the time, the couple planned to go to Jordan.
But then a team of German kidney transplant surgeons came to Abu Dhabi and Mr El Nour underwent a transplant at Zayed Military Hospital, just four months after he began dialysis.
The operation, in September 2007, was successful and Mr El Nour has fully recovered. He has check-ups at Dubai Hospital every three months.
"My wife lives normally, without any medication or changes to her life," he said. "Even the family ties at home are stronger, especially as husband and wife. That your partner has volunteered to give you a part of her body and change your life for the better is truly beautiful."
mismail@thenational.ae
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
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China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh132,000 (Countryman)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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On sale: Now
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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