Amidst the raging fires of conflict, little Osama Sofrajy, a seven-year-old Syrian refugee, has endured almost two years without access to proper medical care or treatment for his debilitating condition - Crohn's disease. His fragile intestines have been ravaged, rendering him unable to absorb nutrients, resulting in a shocking loss of weight to only thirteen kilograms (about 28.66 pounds). Tragically, his once nimble legs lost their ability to carry him.
Osama's life has been a harrowing journey, compounded by the relentless suffering caused by his rare ailment. His path has been further darkened by the shadows of war; they compelled his entire family to seek refuge in Jordan, where they encountered different charitable organizations offering support. However, it was not until they met the compassionate volunteers of Tzu Chi in Jordan that they saw a beacon of hope.
They provided comprehensive and unwavering care, holding the young boy's hand through every step of his arduous medical journey; he has been through valleys of despair and hardship that life had thrown his way.
Sudden and Unusual Illness
Born in January 2005 in Homs, Syria, little Osama entered the world healthy and normal. From 1994 to 2002, his father had spent eight years working in Saudi Arabia to save up money and allow him to return to his hometown and open a small grocery store. The family led a peaceful and unremarkable life, much like that of any other family. Osama had three brothers and one sister; their home consisted of the ground floor, where his father ran his shop, and the upper floor, where the family lived.
In 2009, when Osama was eight years old, he began experiencing recurrent infections in his digestive and intestinal systems. Concerned, his parents took him to several doctors at public hospitals in Syria; they were reassured that it was nothing serious, just an inflammation caused by fungi in his intestines. So he was prescribed a plethora of medications, including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and steroids.
By October 2010, despite all the medication and treatment, the child's condition did not improve. After numerous ultrasounds and tests, the final diagnosis came from Dr. Riyad Alaaraj, a physician at a public hospital in Syria; he informed Osama's family that he was suffering from Crohn's disease and required continuous treatment for at least six months.
Manmade Disaster
In March 2011, the Syrian civil war erupted, transforming sporadic protests across the country into an uncontrollable wildfire. Syria was engulfed in the cruel flames of war that spared no one from their devastating impact. To safeguard their families' lives, people had no choice but to abandon areas vulnerable to airstrikes and seek refuge in regions with fewer attacks. Tragically, Osama's home in Homs was reduced to rubble by the bombing, leaving him and his family homeless refugees.
As the conflict intensified, civilians found themselves with nowhere to take shelter. Hospitals and doctors became increasingly scarce.
Constant bombardments became an everyday reality, forcing a halt to Osama's medical treatment; this worsened his already deteriorating health.
From 2012 until the end of December 2013, Osama's father led the family to seek refuge in the countryside near Damascus, temporarily residing in the home of a kind-hearted stranger. Despite this respite, Osama's physical condition continued to deteriorate, leaving him frail and unable to walk. His parents, heartbroken and helpless, could only shed tears in silence and look to heaven for answers.
In December 2013, with his father and older brother taking turns to carry him, the family embarked on a perilous journey, evading airstrikes and soldiers during the day and walking through the night. For four nights, they braved the constant sound of the Syrian government's ruthless bullets behind them and sought salvation from the Jordanian forces ahead. Crossing that line meant life – they would meet in the next life those unfortunate souls unable to make it.
After surviving this life-or-death ordeal, on December 28, the family reached the Jordanian border. They fell to their knees in tears of both relief for having escaped with their lives and uncertainty about their daunting future.
Encounter with Kindness
After entering Jordan, Osama's family found temporary refuge in the Zaatari Camp for five days. With the help of relatives in Amman, they were able to move out of the camp. However, their journey as displaced individuals led them to several different places, from Jabal Natif to Jabal Zuhour, Nazal, Salt, and finally settling in Jabal Hussein, Amman, where they reside to this day.
In this trying period of homelessness, Osama's aunt, Faten Sofrajy, took her children to a clinic in Jabal Hussein run by Dr. Aous, a Turkish doctor, named the "Clinic of United Women Charity." There Faten met Laila Meidani, a Syrian-Turkish pharmacist. Faten shared Osama's condition with Laila. Driven by compassion, she made multiple home visits, doing her best to aid the child.
Laila continued to provide care for Osama's medical needs, sometimes bringing medication from Turkey and even arranging a year of private tutoring for him since he had not been fortunate enough to attend school like other normal children.
Reflecting on the changes the war brought to Syrian refugees, Laila emphasized the concept of "paradigm shift." She explained that, during her schooling in Syria, she was taught that there were no illiterates in the country. However, when she started assisting refugees, she realized that this was far from the truth.
Many who had spent their lives in rural areas inherited specific skills and traditions through generations. However, the war compelled them to open their eyes to the diversity of the world, with different cultures beyond just Muslims or non-Muslims. Laila stressed the importance of learning to respect and accept one another, irrespective of race or religion.
Between 2014 and 2019, Osama journeyed through various hospitals in Amman, seeking medical treatment. He received care at institutions sponsored by Caritas, the Italian Hospital, and hospitals sponsored by Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, like the Akilah Hospital. The family never gave up hope of a cure, enduring distance, and exhaustion to find even the slightest chance of healing.
Throughout their challenging and uncertain ordeal as refugees, it was the benevolent encounters with compassionate individuals like Laila that provided a glimmer of hope for Osama and his family.
Glimmer of Hope
Laila, accompanied by a nurse named Fabio, a Palestinian-Peruvian, began visiting Osama's home two to three times a week from 2018 onwards. Fabio tended to the child's wounds, changing dressings and cleansing his injuries. Sometimes, he declined Laila's offered remuneration, believing that assisting Osama was an act of humanitarian aid and love, beyond the need for payment.
Fabio also worked at the Akilah Hospital alongside Dr. Hakim. In 2019, Fabio approached Dr. Hakim and told him about a case he learned of through Laila in 2017. He asked if Dr. Hakim could find doctors to help this poor little boy. Showing him Osama's photographs, Dr. Hakim then referred the case to Dr. Muhanad.
In June 2019, Dr. Muhanad alerted Tzu Chi, and volunteer Lai Hua-Hsiu (賴花秀) visited Al-Bayadir Hospital to see Osama. She explained the critical condition of the child to Chen Chiou-hwa (陳秋華), the CEO of the Tzu Chi branch in Jordan. "He has fistulas and perforations in his thighs, back, and abdomen. With even the slightest pressure, waste would ooze out." Therefore, Dr. Muhanad performed an emergency surgery, creating two artificial openings in Osama's abdomen to remove and suture the necrotic parts of his intestines.
After the surgery, Osama required intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) injections to prevent further necrosis and perforations in his intestines. Wang Chih-Min, a pharmacist at Tzu Chi International Medical Association in Taiwan, personally delivered the medicine to Jordan. This prescription became the key to preserving Osama's fragile intestines. After enduring years of torment, Osama finally found relief from the agony; the light of hope gradually illuminated his life.
Compassionate Footsteps of Tzu Chi
Over the years, Tzu Chi's unwavering presence has brought regular monthly visits and medical supplies to support young Osama, who relies on an ostomy bag for his condition. Most crucially, with Tzu Chi's assistance, in January 2021, he began receiving Humira injections, a costly and scarce medication specially tailored to treat Crohn's disease. These injections, administered twice a month, have become a lifeline for the young boy.
Due to the burden of his condition, Osama was unable to attend school, as both public and private institutions hesitated to accommodate children with special needs. Recognizing the importance of education, Tzu Chi Jordan took action in 2022; they hired a retired teacher with special education experience to provide Osama with classes at home. Now, every other day, Osama walks to the teacher's home to learn Arabic, mathematics, English, history, and geography. His thirst for knowledge has brought him up to the level of a third-grade elementary student.
After overcoming suffering, Osama now seeks to gain wisdom. Encouraged by Tzu Chi volunteers, he actively participates in distribution activities, understanding that, even without material possessions, he can still give back with a generous heart and compassion; he can nurture his virtuous field of merit and expand his wisdom. He realizes that, even in adversity, he can make a difference and extend a helping hand to those in need.
Thanks to the continuous care and companionship of Tzu Chi's Jordanian team, Osama has transformed himself from a bedridden refugee child into a healthy, vibrant young man who enjoys soccer and taekwondo. From an illiterate boy, he has blossomed into a confident, smiling individual who loves learning and sports.
These profound changes are a result of a marriage of love and patience, to create a miracle. The volunteers in Jordan, upholding the spirit of Tzu Chi's mission and following Master Cheng Yen's teachings, have alleviated suffering and brought joy; they have healed wounds and caused lotus flowers to flourish in the barren desert.
A Jing Si Aphorism says: “Life is impermanent. It exists only in the space of a breath.”
Join Tzu Chi. Let us use our time well to benefit living beings.
Story by Lamiya Lin from Jordan
