Meet Baby Khalifa, the Emirati miracle baby who has defied all odds to celebrate his third birthday after a remarkable three-year battle for survival. Born at just 23 weeks of gestation and weighing a mere 560 grams on August 1, 2020, in Abu Dhabi’s NMC Royal Hospital, Khalifa’s journey began as an extremely preterm baby. With unwavering support from his parents, siblings, and a dedicated team of medical experts, Khalifa faced a tough fight for his life, including health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. His fragile start in life led to immediate intervention, spending months in the neonatal intensive care unit and undergoing a tracheostomy due to tracheal narrowing in December 2020. After five months of intensive care, Khalifa showed incredible resilience and was transferred to NMC ProVita’s long-term care unit on February 24, 2021.

Over the past two years, Khalifa has transformed from a fragile infant into a healthy, active, and endearing toddler. His journey was not without setbacks, including a battle with COVID-19 in early 2022. Recently, he underwent a successful corrective procedure on August 11 to address a narrowed airway, bringing him one step closer to reuniting with his family. Khalifa’s remarkable recovery is a testament to the dedication of a multidisciplinary medical team, including physicians, pediatric nurses, specialized therapists, and a child educator. He is described as an incredibly social and lovable boy, fluent in three languages, and with a special fondness for reading menus.