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🇪🇬 Egypt /Health & Science

Egyptian Family Pleads for Help as Son Suffers from Rare Genetic Disease

From Al-Masry Al-Youm · () Arabic

Translated from Arabic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A family in Port Said is appealing to officials for help as their 5-year-old son suffers from a rare genetic disorder.
  • The child, Hassan Mohamed Hassan, has been deteriorating for two years, with doctors struggling to diagnose or treat his condition.
  • The family has sought extensive medical help in Egypt but is now looking for specialized international evaluation.

A family in Port Said, Egypt, has issued an urgent plea to health officials and the governor for assistance in saving their 5-year-old son, Hassan Mohamed Hassan. For the past two years, Hassan has been battling a rare genetic disease that is progressively worsening, leaving his parents desperate for a diagnosis and effective treatment.

Hassan was a healthy, active child until the age of three. His mother, Mariam Ibrahim, noticed he began falling frequently and had trouble with balance. Initial medical examinations, including brain scans, revealed a minor anomaly, and he was prescribed medication. However, his condition continued to decline.

The family embarked on a difficult journey, consulting numerous doctors and visiting multiple hospitals across Egypt. Specialized genetic testing eventually revealed a rare gene mutation. Doctors have indicated it affects one in 100 children globally but remains unclassified among known diseases, making a precise diagnosis and treatment protocol extremely challenging.

Our son is slipping away before our eyes.

— Hassan's familyExpressing their desperation and the severity of their son's condition.

Hassan's condition has severely impacted his mobility and even his ability to swallow, causing him difficulty with food and water. Despite ongoing physical therapy and medication, his nerve and muscle weakness continues to worsen. Medical assessments suggest his condition requires evaluation at an international center specializing in rare genetic and neurological disorders.

His mother tearfully appealed for intervention, asking for someone to "adopt Hassan's case" as his health deteriorates daily. She fears losing him before a treatment can be found. The family, whose father is a government employee with a disability, faces immense financial strain, especially as they also seek treatment for their younger daughter who suffers from a rare intestinal condition.

All I ask is for someone to adopt my son Hassan's case, as his condition worsens every day, and I fear losing him before we find a treatment.

— Mariam IbrahimThe mother's direct appeal to officials and the public.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al-Masry Al-Youm in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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