Al Ain family seeks Dhs1.8m to save child battling Wolman disease

Wolman disease is threatening the life of Tameem, a 9-year-old child, who needs 24 injections a year with a total value of Dhs1,851,382.

This has left Tameem’s father helpless in the face of this exorbitant cost compared to his monthly income, forcing him to resort to Al Khaleej readers to ask for help in paying the costs of treatment for his son for fear he may lose the battle with this rare disease.

“Due to the family’s difficult financial circumstances and the high cost of treatment, Tameem has not received any injections since November 2025. According to his treating physician, Tameem was supposed to be injected with therapeutic needles twice a month, which resulted in early liver fibrosis and other symptoms such as nosebleeds during sleep and sweating,” said Tameem’s mother.

“During that period and in an effort to preserve his life, the type of food he took was strictly monitored for fear of high cholesterol, which might kill him or cause damage to his internal organs,” she added.

“I feel pain squeezing my heart when I prevent my son from eating food he wants to taste or playing with his peers. This is what prompted me to seek help and alleviate the suffering of my son, praying to Allah Almighty to reward everyone who alleviates Tameem’s pain and his parents’ fears with the best reward,” Tameem’s mother said in a tone lowered by pain and sorrow.

The medical report issued by the Health Information Management Department at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain indicated that due to the disease the child suffered from enlargement of the liver and spleen, high levels of fats and cholesterol and episodes of nosebleeds.

The condition was diagnosed and it was recommended to continue enzyme replacement therapy using the drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of Wolman disease, monitor liver functions and fat levels and follow up on signs of liver failure and the size of the liver and spleen during treatment.