Ramtha emergency trauma hospital has been in operation since 2013. Since the ceasefire agreement in the south of Syria in July 2017, the number of patients admitted to the emergency room has been significantly reduced, but there are a lot of patients still undergoing treatment, many of whom will continue to require extensive care in the future. Here are three testimonies highlighting the resilience and ongoing needs of patients.
I promised my children I’d come home, and I will Fatima*, From Dara’a, Syria
When an airstrike hit my house in the middle of the night I suffered shrapnel wounds and my legs were so badly damaged that one had to be amputated. I only found out about the amputation when I regained consciousness in a field hospital in Dara’a, Syria. Just two hours after waking up, I was discharged from hospital. As my home had been destroyed, I was taken to my relative’s house, where my children were staying. They had been there during the night of the bombing too, so they were safe.
Seeing my children again was the hardest part. I felt weak, disabled. The kids were frightened of me without my leg. My little boy was afraid of me. He’s just one and a half years old – I used to hug him and feed him, but the last time I saw him, he was scared and went to his aunt instead.
After the amputation in Syria, I was taken across the border, to Ramtha, where I’ve had more sur-gery. I’m also currently undergoing physiotherapy for a prosthesis.
I have three children, aged nine, eight and one and a half. Now I’m in Ramtha, Jordan being treat-ed, while my children are still in Syria. I can’t stop thinking about getting back to them, I don’t know how they are doing or if anything will happen to them.
I am improving with physiotherapy and getting stronger everyday, but I will only return home when I am strong enough to walk and take care of my children. People ask me where I find my strength, but my body is more than just my leg. I must be strong for my children. I must not give in to despair – this injury will not destroy me.
I promised my children I’d come home, and I will.
I miss my friends and family in Syria Samer*, 18 years old from Dara’a, Syria
Five months ago I was in the street with my friend in Dara’a, near home, when a mortar shell hit. My friend was killed, and in the explosion I lost my leg. People picked me up and took me to a field hospital where I stayed for 24 hours, before being taken across the border to Ramtha for further treatment, I’ve been in this hospital since then – but tomorrow I’m going home (08 August 2017).
At home I have three brothers, three sisters and my mother waiting for me. A year ago, my father was also hit in a mortar strike and killed, so my mother moved us to a small village for safety.I’ve made some friends in this hospital, but I miss my friends and family in Syria. I’m looking forward to just sitting down and talking with my family again. Maybe we’ll even have a party.
I’m having another surgery performed next week Yusuf, 29 years old from Dara’a, Syria
Before the war I was daily worker, doing odd jobs, and I was an Arabic teacher for kids. I have a big family in Dara’a – there’s 16 of us including my mother and father. We’ve moved around lots because of the fighting. When I stood on the landmine, I remained conscious despite losing my leg and a lot of blood. After the blast, I looked around me and tried to find the leg I had lost in the explosion. My friend picked me up – he carried me to three different field hospitals, but none of them had my blood type and there were no donor matches, so I was taken across the border, to Ramtha.
I’ve been here for four months and of course I want to go home, but they’re preparing me for a prosthetic leg and I’m having another surgery performed next week. I miss everything about Syria. When I’m back I will spend time with my family. I have two daughters, one is two and the other is just eight months old.