Jordan: “Oh, how much I miss home”

She had the surgery, but after they fled to Jordan she started to feel tired again. “Athab was feeling pain every day but I didn’t know what to do,” remembers Mhanna. “I took her to many doctors but no one was willing to help us. She suffered for four months—until Medair came and helped us.”

The situation was deemed urgent by the Medair health team, and Athab was rapidly enrolled into the cash-for-health programme. “Athab’s medical situation required urgent care in the hospital,” says Dr Mohammad, Medair’s Senior Health Officer. “If she hadn’t had the right care she would not be sitting here with us today.”

Athab stayed in the hospital for four days. During that time, Mhanna was unable to visit her. “It’s really hard for a man to feel weak and unable to be with his wife in such circumstances,” he says.

Athab’s hospital bill was paid by Medair under the cash-for-health programme, which provides financial assistance to families who need urgent health care but cannot afford it.

Because of Athab’s health issues, the couple doesn’t have children. Sometimes they wish they did, but sometimes they feel relieved because they think that it would be unjust to have children living in such difficult circumstances.

Athab and Mhanna never think of going back to Syria. They believe that nothing is left for them there. Syria will only stay in their hearts. Mhanna says with tears in his eyes, “Oh, how much I miss home.”