15-year-old Fatima loses long battle with lupus; foster parents mourn the loss of the girl whose resilience moved thousands across the Gulf
AJMAN: Fatima, a 15-year-old Filipina teenager whose profound story of survival, double abandonment, and resilience touched the hearts of thousands across the GCC, has passed away. She had spent more than two years in a vegetative state under the devoted care of her foster parents in Ajman, battling severe medical complications.
Her foster father, Syed Ali Moazzam, confirmed the tragic news, stating that Fatima was found unresponsive at their residence on Tuesday morning. Despite emergency services performing CPR and rushing her to the hospital, she was pronounced dead upon arrival. A forensic report later concluded that her death was due to natural causes.
A Long, Brave Battle with Illness
Fatima’s health severely deteriorated in early 2024 when she was diagnosed with subcutaneous lupus erythematosus, a complex autoimmune disease. The condition led to low platelet counts and subsequent brain oedema (swelling), which left her in a persistent vegetative state.
For over two years, Fatima remained dependent on a home ventilator, unable to move her body but maintaining brief, limited sleeping cycles where she could open her eyes and look at her caregivers. “She would sleep, then wake up… She had stiffness and could not move on her own. She could only move her eyes,” Moazzam recalled.
A Childhood Marked by Abandonment and Love
Fatima’s life was defined by extreme hardship, but also by the extraordinary compassion of her foster family. Her biological mother abandoned her in the UAE when she was just a year old. She was initially raised informally by a couple for five years, who later fell into financial distress and handed her over to friends in December 2018.
It was then that Pakistani expat Syed Ali Moazzam and his Filipina wife, Muozzama, took her in, becoming her primary caregivers for the next eight years.
Despite their devotion, the family faced insurmountable legal hurdles. Because Fatima lacked an Emirates ID or a formal residence visa, her foster parents could not legally adopt her, enroll her in school, or secure health insurance.
Financial Strains and Legal Hurdles
The absence of legal identification blocked the family from receiving institutional support. While government hospitals provided treatment during critical emergencies, the cost of routine care, medications, and home medical machinery had to be paid entirely out of pocket by her foster parents.
Charity organizations were unable to extend financial aid due to the lack of an Emirates ID. The staggering medical expenses eventually pushed the family into severe financial distress, resulting in a legal rental case against them.
“We did not get any support,” Moazzam explained. “We were the ones providing for all her medical and other needs.”
A Legacy of Hope
Before her illness confined her to a ventilator, Fatima was known for her vibrant spirit and love for the UAE. She actively created vlogs about her life, speaking openly about her struggle for legal documentation while sending messages of strength to other children, urging them to “stay brave, smart, and never give up.”
Following her passing, Fatima’s biological mother returned to the family home after being informed of the tragedy. The foster parents are currently coordinating with the local authorities in Ajman to secure the necessary legal clearances for her funeral, with plans to lay her to rest in the UAE.
