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In the News

Doha’s Story: Inspiring Hope Through MATP

Doha, Omar and Mariam smiling and hanging out together.
Doha, Omar, and Mariam hanging out together.

Doha never imagined that motherhood would redefine her life, yet that is exactly what happened. A devoted mother of two, Mariam (20) and Omar (18), her world changed when Omar was diagnosed with a rare and severe disability, one of only 70 known cases worldwide. Overnight, dreams were reshaped, priorities realigned, and a new purpose emerged.

At the time, Doha was building a successful career with Unilever North Africa, Middle East, and Turkey. But when Omar’s diagnosis came, she made the courageous decision to leave the corporate world and dedicate herself fully to his care, and to other children facing profound challenges.

Brother and sister together.
Omar and Mariam

Life quickly filled with hospital visits, therapy sessions, and uncertainty. Yet Doha refused to surrender to despair. Instead, she turned love into action. That vision led to the founding of 4 Kids Therapy, a nonprofit center supporting children with severe and complex developmental disabilities. What began with just four children has grown into a thriving center serving more than 130, offering physical and occupational therapy, sports, speech therapy, psychological support, and academic guidance, all under one roof. Every child is seen. Every effort is celebrated.

When Doha joined the Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program (MATP), she brought the same compassion and unwavering belief that built her center. Today, she helps build an MATP Family Support Network, ensuring parents can share experiences, learn from one another, and never feel alone. Her presence is felt in every smile she encourages, every milestone she celebrates, and every child she cheers for—no achievement is too small.

Mother and son together.
Doha and Omar

“Omar taught me the value of resilience and changed my mindset about success and progress,” Doha shares. “I celebrate the small achievements because even the simplest task requires more effort from him than it does from others.” She recalls spending three months teaching Omar how to clap, feeling discouraged, only for him to do it on his own ten days later. That moment changed everything, it taught her not to rush progress, not to give up, and to trust the process, a lesson she now shares with countless families.

Mariam, Omar’s sister, sees beyond the diagnosis. “Omar is more than his genetic disorder. He is my brother and my best friend, with a smile that brightens my day.” Her words reflect the heart of inclusion: seeing people for who they are, not what they lack. Her journey reminds us that love builds bridges, belief opens doors, and every ability deserves to shine.

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