Considered the world's heaviest woman, 25-year-old Eman Ahmed, who weighs 500 kg and has been bedridden since she was 11 years old, may have hit a lucky break with Sushma Swaraj who granted her visa to India.
But the Egyptian now faces an enormous hurdle – the logistics of transporting herself to Mumbai for medical treatment.
Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, who works at Saifee hospital, was, in fact, the one who built awareness about Ahmed's condition after receiving an "emotional mail" that said every doctor she had approached denied her treatment. But the doctor says that they are unable to find air ambulances that would help.
"Now we are trying to speak to private airlines...We are trying to generate the funds needed to airlift her. The rest we can manage. I have promised her free surgery, which is slated to be performed at Saifee hospital. We will waive all the expenses including the hospital stay," he said, adding that Eman's family cannot afford a chartered flight, according to Mumbai Mirror.
Many airlines rules also don't allow the transportation. Jet Airways rules, for instance, say its stretchers are capable of carrying patients weighing less than 136 kg.
Air India chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani said that Air India does not fly to Africa at the moment. The nearest airport is Frankfurt in Germany. But the airline "will be happy to explore the feasibility of flying Ahmed" if a formal request is made, he added.
However, the most difficult thing about treating Eman Ahmed's obesity will be the surgery itself, which may be riddled with complications. Eman has a number of associated ailments like diabetes, asthma, hypertension, pulmonary problems, depression and more. She will have to spend at least three months in hospital after the surgery.
