Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, an Egyptian once known as world heaviest woman, has died at an Abu Dhabi hospital on Monday, September 25, aged 37.
Ms Ahmed had been receiving extensive rehabilitation treatment at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi where she was under the supervision of a medical team of over 20 doctors from different specialties (including nutritionists, physiotherapists and psychologists) managing her, but she died from complications surrounding her condition.
The Egyptian suffered a rare thyroid condition that drastically altered her metabolism, resulting in her weight ballooning to 500kg. That led to a multitude of complex health conditions that damaged her heart, kidney and respiratory system and which, ultimately, led to her death.
A statement issued by the hospital said that Ms Ahmed breathed her last at 4.35 am on Monday. “She developed complications from the underlying comorbid conditions, including heart disease and kidney dysfunction,” the statement read. “Our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to her family,” the hospital said.
Ms Ahmed who weighed nearly 500 kg, was airlifted on a chartered plane from Alexandria to Mumbai in February, where she underwent a weight loss procedure by bariatric surgeon Dr Mufazzal Lakdawala at the Saifee Hospital.
She had a Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on March 7, and by April, doctors at Saifee claimed that she had lost nearly 242 kg.
But Saifee Hospital was later accused of using her case as a publicity stunt to boost medical tourism in the country. Ms Ahmed’s sister Shaimaa Selim circulated a video stating that she was not doing so well.
After several days of bickering between the Saifee Hospital management and Ms Selim, the management of Burjeel Hospital stepped in and offered to take further care of Ms Ahmed.
On May 4, she was flown out of Mumbai to Abu Dhabi, UAE via a specially chartered Medivac flight and began her recovery.
At Burjeel hospital in Abu Dhabi, specialists were called in to manage a raft of complicated related health concerns, with experts from America and Switzerland consulted over the possibility of Ms Ahmed walking again – something she had not done for years.
Doctors leading the care of the world’s former heaviest woman, were aiming to reduce her weight further, to less than 100kg, with more operations planned later this year. She was making progress until her condition began to suddenly deteriorate on Friday, September 22.
Her doctors expressed shock at the sudden deterioration in Ms Ahmed’s health which led to her death.
“All of the staff are upset and very disappointed. Eman’s sister was with her all of the time, right until the end. We are taking care of the family; our responsibility doesn’t end with the patient.
“Her problem was not just obesity, as she also had serious comorbid-related health conditions, with her heart and kidneys. Her health suddenly began to deteriorate and finally ended in this drastic result. It was not just a result of one cause.
“There were also respiratory problems, and they culminated in this tragic event. The treatment she was having continued in the same way, and nothing was different,” the Medical Director of Burjeel Hospital, Dr Nabil Debouni said.
A timely update from Burjeel Hospital claimed that Ms Ahmed was in good shape, saying she has started eating food on her own and was able to sit up on her own.
“Eman was improving every day and was getting well. She had developed a good relationship with her team during her time with us, was beginning to communicate more and more, and responding well to the physiotherapy and speech therapy she had been having.
“Her diet was right, and nothing could have been done differently – so we were all very surprised when she started to go downhill over the previous three to four days.
“Eman was not in a very good state on Sunday, and then the event took place on Monday morning,” Dr Debouni said.
Her vital signs had started to deteriorate, including her respiration, blood pressure and electrolytes in her blood and urea. Doctors said there was a serious issue with her kidney function and oxygen saturation levels.
“As physicians, we know from continuous monitoring of patients when things are not getting better and it is serious.
“Eman was very peaceful at the end, and was not in any pain. She went very smoothly.
“All of the staff that have been working with her are upset, as they have become very attached to her and have been working hard to achieve the best possible outcome for Eman.
“I have had just an hour’s sleep; it has been exhausting for everyone. We are now working on the logistics of getting Eman back to Egypt as soon as possible to be with her family,” Dr Debouni said.
