In 2017, a bombing at Najm’s home in Syria resulted in the loss of his left leg.

For a year after the amputation, Najm sought treatment in Syria. However, the lack of accessible care forced him to seek help across the border in Türkiye. After searching for suitable treatment options, he found the National Prosthetics Project Center in Reyhanli, Hatay. It wasn’t an easy journey; Najm required multiple surgeries to correct the amputation stump before he could even begin rehabilitation.

The road to recovery was long, but with the dedication of both Najm and the team at the prosthetic center, Najm began to rebuild his life. “Usually, people with amputations who visit our center have psychological trauma due to their past injuries,” shares Najm’s Physical Therapist, Bilal. “However, Najm’s acceptance of his condition, along with our psychosocial support, significantly aided his physical therapy process.”

As the Eid holiday approached, Najm had one request: to be fitted with his prosthetic limb in time for the holiday so he could celebrate as he used to. “The team at the center were very supportive and assured me that they would do their best,” Najm says. Against the odds, the team met this challenge, allowing him to walk again and enjoy Eid with a renewed sense of empowerment.

Not long after, Najm opened a small chicken shop in Kırıkhan, Hatay. Business thrived, and soon, Najm was able to marry and start building a family. But tragedy struck again when an earthquake destroyed his shop and damaged his prosthetic limb. The prosthetic center once again stepped in, providing essential repairs, leading Najm to open a new shop in his yard. “Thanks to God, the business was good again, and the sales were increasingly coming through,” he recalls.

Najm’s story is one of resilience, but it is also a testament to the life-changing impact of compassionate care. “If I hadn’t got this prosthetic limb, I wouldn’t be able to stand up and resume my work and my life as they are now,” Najm says. “I felt that a part of my body returned to me, and I felt that I was back to my former life,” he adds.

His story is a reminder of the countless others who are waiting for the same chance at a better life. There are many people in need of prosthetic limbs, many who are waiting for the moment they can walk again. Our goal is not just to fit prosthetic limbs, but to help people lead fulfilling lives and achieve lasting wellbeing.

Najm’s journey may have started with loss, but it continues with hope as he builds his future, step by step.

This rehabilitation work is carried out in partnership with the National Prosthetics Project Center in Reyhanli, with funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.