QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Maha al-Ahmad held her 13-year-old son’s hand, Muhammad, to ease his misery, after he lost his sight a year and three months ago, due to leukemia.
Al-Ahmad, 40 years old, from the village of Kharab Bajar in the countryside of Qamishli, northeastern Syria, said that “three years ago, Muhammad contracted leukemia, and I treat him in Damascus.”
However, as a result of the seriousness of his condition and the mother’s inability to treat her son a timely manner, her son lost his sight about a year and three months ago and now he needs eye cell transplantation so that he can see again.
“The doctors told us that Muhammad’s eyes can be treated only in Germany, my living situation is too difficult,” she said. “I do not have the needed money for traveling and treatment, especially since I do not have a job and my husband is dead.”
Since the opening of the Farah Recreational Center for Children with Cancer in the town of Maabada City, some 30 km east of Qamishli, Maha has registered Muhammad within the center in order to integrate more with the other children and to alleviate his suffering and pain.
The widow said grievously: “Every 15 to 20 days, I go with Muhammad to Damascus to take chemical doses. Doctors say his condition is deteriorating and he should have an eye transplant as soon as possible.”
“No one supports the center here, neither the responsible authorities nor the organizations or even the residents of the area, they only give false promises of help, what is the fate of our children?” the heartbroken mother said.
“He is my only child; I want to treat him before it is too late,” the helpless mother said.
Ediya al-Ali, 40, a resident of Tel Kocher (al-Ya’rubiyah) town, a mother of a girl with cancer, told North Press that there is no support for children with cancer in the area.
Al-Ali’s daughter is called Rehab, she is 8 years old. She suffers from eye cancer and needs long treatment and care in Damascus hospitals, “Our living situation is too bad, I cannot provide the needed treatment for my child. What a plight.”
Al-Ali complains about the lack of support, “There is no support for children with cancer in the region, or centers concerned about them. What is the fate of our children?”
Lina Mirza, manager of the Farah Center for Children with Cancer, explained to North Press that the center is a private humanitarian project that is not affiliated with any party or organization. The center is free and depends on charitable initiatives only.”
The center was opened about a year ago, after it was equipped with personal efforts over seven years.
“There are no centers for children with cancer in the region, that is why I opened this center, which is primarily concerned with psychological treatment for children and providing recreational activities to support them and relieve their pain,” Mirza told North Press.
“When we first opened, there were only five children, and today there are 22 children, including children with cancer and thalassemia,” according to the center’s manager.
The center relies on donations from charitable people, without support or funding from any responsible party, and the funds that are given to patients in the center are very few, and do not cover the expenses and costs of their treatment, according to Mirza.
“All the children in the center, in general, have cancer and need psychological support, we must give them a helping hand,” said Mirza.
The director of Farah center told North Press that the center’s management contacted several concerned and responsible parties in the region and organizations as well, to provide support and assistance to children with cancer, but did not receive any response.