Post successful bariatric surgery, Eman Ahmed (36) the Egyptian national who was considered to be the world’s heaviest woman, is all set to return home within a month, say doctors treating her at Saifee Hospital.

Doctors, however say, she will take almost a year to start walking independently and will need heavy physiotherapy.

“Eman may not be able to stand on her feet independently for a year as she requires heavy physiotherapy and lose more weight. She has been bedridden for 25 years,” said Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, bariatric surgeon who operated on her.

Eman’s sister had last year contacted Dr Lakdawala to help her and treat her. On December 8, 2016, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj helped her get a medical visa for Mumbai and on February 11, 2017, she landed in Mumbai.

She was put on protein-rich liquid diet along with dairy and fibre supplements which helped her lose nearly 100kg within a month. Seeing her progress and with all vital health parameters under control, doctors decided to carry out the bariatric surgery.

Lakdawala said on International Women’s Day (March 8), she danced on an Arabic number in joy. “Eman successfully underwent a Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on March 7. On the same night, we shifted her to her room. Next day, on International Women’s Day, she danced in happiness on an Arabic number on her bed itself. It was like a dream comes true for us,” said Lakdawala.

Eman, who was till now on liquid diet, will be put on semi-solid diet within a week.

“Within two weeks, we should start her full diet. We are also waiting for the genetics test reports that will decide our future course of treatment for Eman,” said Lakdawala.

He said they will be able to send Eman home within a month.

“My aim to send her home sitting is now coming along. We should be able to send her home in a months’ time. We will go for second surgery after a year or so,” said Lakdawala.

Eman, who weighed 500kg before coming to India, had suffered a stroke resulting in paralysis of her right arm and leg. She also has Type II diabetes, hypertension, severe obstructive and restrictive lung disease and gout.

“Her kidney functions are normal. We hope that soon her thyroid, hypertension and diabetes too will get under control,” said Lakdawala.

Eman was flown to Mumbai from Alexandria in a cargo plane and transferred to Saifee Hospital on a mini-truck. The hospital had made a customised bed and kept her in a specially prepared room on the first floor of the hospital.

  bariatricsurgery, Egypt, EmanAhmed, externalaffairs, heaviestwoman, SaifeeHospital, SaveEman, SushmaSwaraj, treatment, weightloss