At 21, Nirdosh Kujur left Garu village in Jharkhand, India, and travelled more than 1,700 kilometres to Chennai. Raised in a rural community with few opportunities, his future seemed destined to mirror that of previous generations. Yet he was determined to support his family and build a life beyond the boundaries of his village.

Jumar Donayre Fabroa, a 38-year-old Filipino father living in the UAE, never imagined that his life would change so profoundly. He lived a quiet life, taking care of himself and his small family, working hard to provide for his children and planning for the future. Then he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. The diagnosis filled him with fear, and his hopes for the future seemed to collapse under the weight of uncertainty.

Five-year-old Jowahar arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with eyes that sparkled with curiosity, even though his vision was clouded. A bright and energetic child, the cataracts in both of his eyes threatened to dim his world before it had the chance to fully unfold. If left untreated, his condition could rob him of his sight as well as the opportunity for a normal childhood.

At Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, part of Dubai Health, two-year-old Yaqeen Kankar was given a new chance at life when doctors entered her room carrying a sealed red box containing a gene therapy that could secure her future. She had been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare disease that gradually robs children of the ability to move and breathe.