The young Qatari, Ghanem Al-Muftah, drew attention during the opening of the World Cup, as an example of a disability challenge, as he suffers from a rare disease that affects the growth of the lower part of his body.
“Challenging the Impossible”… the story of a young man who caught the eye at the opening of the World Cup
A Qatari young man who was born with a rare disease that prevented the growth of the lower part of his body drew attention at the opening of the Qatar World Cup, accompanied by the famous American actor, Morgan Freeman.
Al-Ghanim (20 years), whose words inspired the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup accompanied by American actor Morgan Freeman, was born with a rare condition known as Caudal Retraction Syndrome (CDS), a disorder that causes problems in the development of the lower part of the body, which leads to difficulty walking and urinating. and defecate.
The Cleveland Clinic says that this imbalance begins during the development of the fetus in the mother’s womb, and affects areas of the body that may include the lower back, legs, urinary tract, digestive system, and reproductive organs.
It happens that the bones of the spinal cord and vertebrae at the bottom of the spine are abnormal or non-existent, and a fluid-filled sac forms near the spinal cord as its vertebrae do not completely close, and a curvature of the spine may occur.
The hip bones are small, and the breast bones appear irregular, which causes breathing problems.
Symptoms of caudal retraction syndrome may affect the growth and function of the renal, gastrointestinal and urinary tract systems.
Symptoms include abnormal or absent kidney development, which can cause kidney failure.
Bladder control problems, frequent urinary tract infections, bowel problems, and the anus may be closed, which requires surgery to open it.
It may affect the growth and function of the genitals, a case of “cryptorchidism” may occur, and the opening of the urethra may be on the underside of the penis rather than at the tip.
the reasons
Caudal regression syndrome (CDS) can affect anyone regardless of any factors, and the causes may be genetic.
According to the US National Center for Biotechnology Information, part of the National Library of Medicine, it occurs in 1-3 infants in every 100,000 live births.
And the Cleveland Clinic says that it is more common among children born to parents with diabetes, as it affects one child in every 350 newborns.
It may occur as a result of genetic changes affecting the “mesoderm”, which is the middle layer of tissue in the fetus, which consists of a group of cells responsible for building bones and organs.
The condition may occur as a result of the artery that carries blood to the lower part of the body moving in another direction, preventing blood from reaching that area.
The defect may result from changes in genes that occur during pregnancy (when the egg meets the sperm).
Diagnosis
The condition can be diagnosed before birth through ultrasound imaging, then after birth, doctors conduct more tests to examine the effects of the condition on the baby’s bones and organs.
As for treatment, it is a condition that lasts for life and has no cure, except for surgeries that improve symptoms, such as surgery to improve symptoms resulting from skeletal or bone deformities.
Surgery can be performed to improve the functions of the reproductive organs, urinary tract, and intestines.
You may need to use a ventilator to help with breathing, wear a brace, or use prostheses or devices that help with movement.
This condition cannot be prevented because some causes are caused by random genetic changes that you cannot predict as mentioned previously, but steps can be taken to reduce the risk of diabetes occurring by monitoring blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
Al-Muftah said on several occasions that he refused to surrender to this disability despite the huge challenge represented by his need for continuous treatment, but he was able to overcome that with “patience and positivity.” “I learned from my mother that there is no such thing as impossible,” he said.
He said: “There are those who say that I challenged my disability, but I say that I did not challenge my disability. Rather, I was able to coexist with it and not give in to it. Rather, I went on my way with great hope in life.”