A generous donor has paid AED 198,000 to cover the medical treatment of Adam, a two-and-a-half-year-old Palestinian child diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder known as anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Adam requires intensive physical rehabilitation over a period of three months.
The donation was coordinated through the “Hotline” initiative in collaboration with the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, which facilitated the transfer of the funds to the child’s account at Salma Rehabilitation Hospital in Al Ain.
Adam’s mother expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the donor, saying the donation relieved the family's burden and brought immense joy to their lives. The child’s story was originally published by Emarat Al Youm on April 24.
The mother shared the details of her son’s ordeal: “I was blessed with twins, Amir and Adam. Both were healthy until Adam suddenly experienced severe seizures. He was rushed to Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, where he underwent extensive tests that revealed he suffers from a rare autoimmune condition known as NMDA receptor encephalitis. This illness causes the body to produce antibodies that disrupt normal brain signaling, leading to inflammation in the brain.” She added that Adam was hospitalized for two and a half months, receiving necessary medical treatment and observation. However, his current condition requires intensive rehabilitation at Salma Hospital at a cost of AED 198,000 — an amount not covered by their health insurance.
She explained that her husband, the sole breadwinner, earns AED 10,000 per month, of which AED 2,916 goes toward rent, leaving little to cover other living expenses or the cost of treatment.
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder caused by self-produced antibodies within the central nervous system. It often manifests with psychiatric and neurological symptoms, sometimes preceded by flu-like symptoms. The disease most commonly affects young individuals, especially females. It is estimated that the annual incidence is approximately 1.5 cases per million people. Recent studies indicate that the prevalence of autoimmune encephalitis, including NMDA receptor-related cases, is comparable to that of infectious encephalitis and continues to rise as awareness and diagnosis improve.