King makes dreams of young cancer patients come true (video)

AMMAN – When Raneem Shaikha would go out with her mother, it always fascinated her to see photos of His Majesty King Abdullah. 

“She used to ask me who that person in the pictures was. I would tell her that he is our leader,” her mother Hiba told The Jordan Times over the phone on Thursday. 

Ever since she found out who he was, the five-year-old cancer patient has been dreaming of meeting His Majesty in person. 

Her mother submitted a request to the King Hussein Cancer Foundation’s (KHCF) “Dreams Come True” programme to try to fulfil her daughter’s wish.

The dream became a reality this week, with King Abdullah showing up in person to meet Raneem and two other young cancer patients, according to the KHCF.

“Raneem could barely contain herself when she met His Majesty and it was the first time that I have seen her as happy as she was,” Hiba said, noting the King asked about her child’s interests. She voiced her gratitude to the Royal Court for covering the expenses of her child’s treatment for kidney cancer. 

“When I submitted a request to the Royal Court, I received the confirmation within hours. Without their support, my child would not have had the chance to receive the treatment because it is really expensive,” she added. 

Raneem was among three Jordanian children whose wishes to meet King Abdullah came true through the programme, which entails organising birthday and end-of-treatment parties; granting final wishes to terminally ill and underprivileged patients; providing supplies for the playroom; and holding holiday celebrations and regular entertainment activities, according to a KHCF statement sent to The Jordan Times.

In addition to meeting His Majesty, six-year-old Iyad Lahaileh and five-year-old Abdullah Abdul Haq wished to fly with him. 

In a video released by the KHCF, the King is shown meeting with the three children and then taking the two boys on a 10-minute helicopter trip.

Muna, Iyad’s mother, said her son always spoke about the King.

“He would ask: ‘Does he have children?’ What does his house look like?’” 

Muna noted that when Iyad first saw the King, he rushed to hug him. 

“There are no words to describe how happy and excited my child was. Meeting with His Majesty was really a great morale booster for all of us,” she added. 

HH Princess Dina Mired, KHCF director general, thanked the King for the kind gesture.

“We really appreciate the fact that His Majesty took the time… to draw a smile on the faces of our children and give them memories they will never forget,” she wrote on her Facebook page.