The world's heaviest person, Iman Ahmad Abdulati, has suffered all her life because of her weight. Now, she will have to pay a heavier price if she wants to turn her life around with a life-saving surgery in Mumbai.
The Egyptian tips the scale at 500 kg, and is too big to fit inside an air ambulance. This means that her family will have to cough up Rs. 20 lakh to pay for a commercial flight from Egypt to Mumbai, where Dr Muffazal Lakdawala has agreed to take on her case.
"We are opening an account in Iman's name for complete transparency. Donors will get to know how we are using the money. The hospital is providing all treatment and surgery free of cost to the patient, as the family can't afford it," said Dr Lakdawala, chairman of the Institute of Minimal Invasive Surgical Sciences and Research Centre at Saifee Hospital.
Media had reported on Abdulati's plight - how she has suffered from acute obesity all her life and has been bed-ridden for the past 13 years.
However, they have encountered hurdle after hurdle in their attempt to come to Mumbai for the treatment.
At first, they had trouble getting a medical visa for Abdulati, as embassy officials refused to believe that she could not leave the house and visit their office for a fingerprint scan. However, Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj intervened and Abdulati got her visa.
The next hurdle was transportation. The doctors reached out to air ambulance services but were informed that the door of the aircraft wasn't big enough to accommodate Abdulati.
"It will be easier to transport her in a commercial flight, considering her weight. They can adjust nine seats in the flight tail and put the stretcher there, but it's possible some more modification will be required," said Dr Samir Gokani from Ambucare, who was approached by Dr Lakdawala to airlift Abdulati from Egypt.
"I have formed a team to assist in bringing Abdulati to Mumbai for her surgery. My team has written letters to Jet Airways, Air India and Egypt Airways, requesting them to help us. Also, we will initiate communication with the government to help us with the transport," said Dr Lakdawala.
Air India has already informed that it has no direct flights from Egypt to Mumbai. This leaves just the other two options, since an indirect or hopping flight will mean that staffers will have to carry Abdulati on and off the aircraft several times.
