HER STORY OF SURVIVAL Behind the drop-dead-gorgeous face of the blogger and influencer Hanin Almugahwi, is a tale of a life-threatening condition and extreme emotional turmoil. Sharing her heart wrenching experiences for the first time publicly, she tells Behnaz Sanjana all about it. 23-year-old architecture graduate, Hanin Almughawi looked forward to a blissful married life when she wedded her college sweetheart. As the inevitable teething problems of settling into a new home and family consumed her attention, she ignored the recurrent headaches that got worse by the day. “There was interference by my in-laws in issues between my husband and I, which did not help our new marriage,” remembers Hanin, now 31. “Along with the headaches, I started getting frequent nose bleeds, but I didn’t do anything about it. I was too stressed with the situation with my husband and his family, and did not feel right to talk to anyone about it.” When she complained about her health problems, she was told it was all just ‘in her head’. The alarm bells went off when she started losing her vision, and she finally sought medical help. “I was diagnosed with intercranial hypertension, and the MRI of my brain looked so bad, that doctors in Bahrain had little hope for me,” says Hanin. Her parents accompanied her to London for a cure, but there too, doctors admitted to her case being in its advanced stage. “My mother spoke to some top doctors, and finally we flew to Singapore for my surgery.” Hanin underwent two surgeries to tackle the cerebrospinal fluid that was building excessive pressure in her skull, causing her symptoms. “In the first surgery, they drilled holes in my head to let out a fountain of fluid. After a few days in the ICU, the next operation allowed the excess fluid produced to be drained through a tubing passing down my spine, stomach and through an implanted valve into the bladder. I still have all those scars,” says Hanin. Although her husband accompanied her for her surgery, their relationship was far from perfect. “My mother did feel something wasn’t right between us, but I still did not open up to her,” Hanin admits. From Singapore, she returned to her marital home to recover, but unfortunately did not receive the care and emotional support that was required to recuperate from such a grave health condition. “I was treated very badly,” she says, recounting the indifferent attitude of her husband’s family. “Due to extreme muscle weakness, I could hardly eat anything and PEOPLE | interview December 2021 www.womanthismonth.com 60
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