Ahmed Mehaya, Operations Manager at Proxy Medical Trading, reflects on his journey returning to work after an acquired disability and the inclusive support in the UAE at Aurora50’s Inclusive Workplaces Summit.
Ahmed Mehaya knows what it means to face adversity. The operations manager at Proxy Medical Trading has experienced a series of life-altering motorcycle accidents that forced him to rebuild his life multiple times.
Reflecting on his journey at the summit, Mr Mehaya, who lives with limited arm mobility and a prosthetic leg, shared how his resilience and zest for life have driven him to excel not only in his career but also in sports in the UAE.
Bouncing back from trauma
“In 2008, I broke my elbow in my first accident, limiting my arm’s mobility to 110 degrees,” he said.
“In 2015, another motorcycle accident cost me my leg.”
The injuries left him with a titanium rod in place of his femur, 24 screws in his arm and two screws in his knee. Shortly after the second accident, tragedy struck again with the passing of his wife.
Determined to move forward, Mr Mehaya relocated from the US to the Emirates in 2016.
“I’ve held four jobs since then, including roles at a media company and a courier firm. My current job requires me to drive 7,000-10,000 km monthly across the UAE, delivering nerve monitoring devices and orthopaedic implants to hospitals.”
‘People are understanding in the UAE’
At work, Mr Mehaya said he has always experienced support from colleagues and management.
“It’s not easy wearing pants with a prosthetic leg in the UAE’s heat,” he admitted.
“I have to remove my prosthetic leg, clean it and dry it. People are understanding about the time it takes.