Manchester bombing: Wife of Muslim surgeon who helped kid victims pens emotional letter
THE wife of a Muslim surgeon has penned an emotional letter about the life saving work he carried out on children in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing.
Consultant Mohamed Ismail Aly was one the first to operate on youngsters injured in the atrocity.
He and colleagues battled through the night at the Children’s Hospital in Manchester, performing operation after operation on those caught up in the carnage caused by suicide bomber Salman Abedi.
Like many of the dedicated professionals who tended to the hundreds badly hurt in the blast the Egyptian medic was just another unsung hero, until now.
Following the traumatic events of the last week his wife Sobia Aly took the decision to write a heartfelt letter about the dedication her husband and other Muslims working in the NHS have shown in recent days.
A Muslim surgeon has been working tirelessly to save children’s lives
In her letter to a local newspaper she said: “I felt compelled to write you as my husband - Mr Mohamed Ismail Aly – is a consultant burns and plastic surgeon.
“He was the first surgeon to operate on some of the victims in theatre throughout Monday night and every day this past week.
“The incident on Monday has shocked the nation and I would really like the public to know that a Muslim surgeon has been working tirelessly to save children’s lives.
“In fact, there are several Muslim surgeons in plastics and orthopaedics that have been treating the victims.
“My husband, I and his fellow Muslim medical colleagues were shocked to the core and are absolutely repulsed by the actions of Salman Abedi.
“I think it’s really important the public know that, yes, the NHS and emergency services have done and are doing an amazing job, but behind the scenes is an Egyptian Muslim surgeon who has dedicated his life to saving children and has taken the lead.
“Even when Her Majesty came to visit the children’s hospital, Mohamed was in theatre.”
The Queen shocked by how attack casualty was affected
Mr Aly, 38, who has operated on and treated British soldiers wounded in Afghanistan, started working at the hospital last July.
He lives in Hale, Cheshire, but commutes back to see his family in Newcastle-upon-Tyne at weekends. They are currently finalising plans to move the family to the Manchester area.
His wife told their five-year-old daughter that “daddy is helping people” as she tried to explain the bombing to her.
Sobia, 38, said she was compelled to write to the Manchester Evening News because she felt “so strongly about the events of last week” and was “sad to see the backlash against Muslims”.
“I want the public to know that so many Muslims feel the same pain and hurt as everyone else,” she added.
“I am not deterred from moving to Greater Manchester. We will continue to stand together and all the Muslim surgeons will continue with their good work.
“Hopefully, we will all get through this and my heart truly goes out to all the families that have lost loved ones.”
Mr Aly, was on call when news of the bomb attack began filtering through from the concert hall.
“We have had multiple exercises throughout the year about major casualty incidents and it has helped a lot. The plan was well rehearsed beforehand,” Mr Aly said.
He began operating at 1am on Tuesday and worked throughout the morning and the rest of the week, performing “multiple operations”.
“The entire output of work has been for victims of the incident. That fact puts things into perspective,” he said.
“I would say that this has been the toughest working week of my career.”
He described the injuries as “horrific and life-changing”, but revealed many patients were discharged over the weekend.
“Many of those still being treated, however, face a long road back to recovery,” he said.
“There have been injuries you would normally expect to see in a war zone or war field, not a Western country.
“There were multiple operations throughout the night and most of the patients were critically unwell. Some of the injuries are quite complex.
“Plastic surgery and reconstruction has been involved. But the morale and professionalism of my colleagues and everyone at the hospital has been exemplary in very difficult conditions.
“People have been emotionally and visibly shaken, but we have provided impeccable care.
“People here are in solidarity. The city is together, I can feel it.
“They should know that Muslim families are trying to help, to do all they can to help.”