An Indian expat was at a loss for words when Dubai Hospital waived the Dh100,000 bill of her 73-year-old cancer-stricken mother.
The hospital’s generosity, coupled with the unflinching support of people she didn’t even know, gave hope to distraught Sharjah resident Deepa Vasandani, who had been struggling to provide for the medical care of her mother.
“My husband does maintenance work and earns Dh4,200, but Dh2,000 is deducted as rent. I had opened a tailoring shop and a laundry shop. I was doing well. But in 2018, my mother Veena Vaswani, who was then in India, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I sold my home there to cover treatment costs in New Delhi.
“I brought her here on a visit visa as I am her only child. I tried to convert it to a residency visa but I was told it would be difficult. I wasn’t aware of travel insurance,” Deepa said.
In the middle of it all, the pandemic struck and turned her life upside down. In March, she had to close her shops and relieve her staff. “We had everything for a small family. And in the past few months, we lost everything.”
Hospital never said ‘no’
Suffering from various conditions related to multiple myeloma, Veena was admitted to Dubai Hospital. Every time Deepa was asked to purchase medicines, either the hospital staff, an Emirati or an Arab national would step in.
Deepa couldn’t help but feel emotional as she recalled the many occasions when support came from unknown faces wearing masks. “The doctors and nurses went out of their way to help. They never said no or stopped treatment. Two nurses once chipped in Dh250 each to help me buy medicines. They offered free injections for chemotherapy. Some well-wishers and unknown people got me medicines from India.
“Once, a pharmacist gave her credit card to pay for a bill and another time it was a local lady who helped. At another time, a person collected Dh50 from others to fund my bill. The hospital bills may have hit Dh100,000 but they allowed me to discharge my mother. I have seen God in each of those faces.” Deepa said she would reciprocate the kindness by stitching 150 gowns for the nurses. “This is the least I could do,” she said.
‘I feel guilty but I’m broke’
With the deadline for overstay fine waivers fast approaching, the expat was forced to send her ailing mother back to New Delhi on Friday, August 7.
“I was left with my mangalsutra and gave it to a pawnbroker to arrange a business class flight ticket for my mother as the hospital insisted she couldn’t travel on economy class. I have asked for money from everyone I know, including the building watchman. My debt may be up to Dh25,000.”
As she sent her mother home, Deepa was unsure how she would be taken care of back in India. But then, she was left with no other choice, she said. “I have failed to look after my mother. I feel guilty of sending her back but I am broke. There is no money to send home to look after her. If I find a job, I can still turn things around.”
