ABU DHABI // The two Emirati children who survived a knife attack that killed their mother are recovering physically, but their mental scars may take longer to heal.
Suzan Al Qudat, 39, died after she was stabbed 12 times in the back, stomach and neck at her family home in Al Faseel, Fujairah, on March 23 before her attacker turned on Natalie Al Mansoori, 11, her brother Hamad, 9, and a maid, 29.
Natalie was stabbed nine times in her stomach, neck and chest, while Hamad was stabbed four times. The family’s Indonesian maid suffered minor injuries.
Natalie and Hamad are being treated at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in the capital and are in a stable condition.
They can walk and eat unaided, and a psychiatrist was helping them to cope with the death of their mother, said their father, Ibrahim Al Mansoori, vice chancellor of Sharjah University’s Khor Fakkan campus.
Relatives travelled from the east coast to be by the children’s bedsides.
On Sunday, they were visited by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. The surprise visit by the Rulers lifted Natalie and Hamad's spirits – and those of the whole family – before the children's discharge from hospital, expected today, said Mr Al Mansoori.
“The visit of Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Mansour had a positive impact on the children, as well as me. It has relieved our grief and this is what we always expect from our Rulers who are with all citizens in all happy and sad situations,” he said.
Natalie was moved by the visit of the Rulers, and thanked “baba Mohammed” for coming to their hospital room.
“Thank you baba Mohammed bin Zayed and Mansour bin Zayed for your visit. I was really happy when I saw you visiting me. I was also really excited to see you,” she said.
Hamad said the visit helped to take his “sadness away”.
“Thank you baba Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Mansour bin Zayed for visiting me at the hospital, and that makes me so happy in this difficult moment and all my sadness got away.”
On Friday, Mr Al Mansoori told his children that their mother was killed in the attack.
“Natalie left the intensive-care unit two days ago and was taken to the paediatric ward. I did tell them about the death of their mother on Friday. Hamad got upset when told about his mother, but Natalie was more sorrowful because she saw her mother being stabbed, as she told us,” he said. “But I relieved their sadness by telling them that their mother is a martyr and about the status of martyrs in heaven. The whole family is with them, relieving their grief.”
Ms Al Qudat was buried last week in Khor Fakkan cemetery. About 2,500 mourners attended the funeral. Police have arrested a man in connection with the attack.
roueiti@thenational.ae