Power of a mother's prayer

9:20am Thursday 24th July 2008

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A HALE teenager will make an emotional return to his family home this week, after a miraculous recovery from a devastating illness.

Fourteen-year-old Hashim Ahmed, was struck down with encephalitis - a swelling of the brain - in March.

Doctors who examined him at Wythenshawe Hospital after he was found collapsed at home, warned his family he had no hope of recovery and would probably die that day.

But the talented footballer - who recently won the player of the year award for Altrincham's U-15 team - defied the odds to survive.

He remained in a coma for five weeks at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, where he had been transferred to.

A scan revealed the outlook was still grim though - doctors told the family the Stockport Grammar pupil would never be able to walk or talk again.

But Hashim again proved the medics wrong. After coming out of the coma he spoke his first word, 'hurting' - and his mum, Parveen, cried with relief.

Since then he has made such great strides that now, four months after he was struck down with the illness, he is speaking normally, can walk and is ready to come home.

Proud mum Parveen said: "It is a miracle. They can't believe he has recovered.

"He is his normal self, the normal Hashim.

"I never thought I would see the day we would bring him home."

Parveen - who with husband, Anjum, has four other sons - said she was overwhelmed by the kindness that had been shown by so many people: "I believe he has recovered because of the power of prayer, so many people of all denominations and faiths have prayed for him. I think his recovery is God's will.

"I would like to thank everyone who has prayed for him and everyone who has cared for him, including his consultant, Tim Martland."

After Hashim was found collapsed at home in March, his brother, Hamzah, 18, resuscitated him as an ambulance controller instructed him over the phone.

Now Hashim is looking forward to making a full recovery, but Parveen said she was not putting a time limit on his progress: "I am just taking everything from day to day."