Rafaa is a 46 year old widow who lives in the Hassan Sham U3 camp located 25 miles east of Mosul. She has six dependent children , 2 girls and 4 boys. She was recently transported to a hospital in Erbil and after taking tests and xrays it was decided that she required surgery for axillary … Continue reading RAFAA – surgery completed

Update: Monday 22 January, 2018. Rahaf’s surgery to remove the plates holding her femur together has been very successful.  She is pictured here back in the camp walking with no pain. Update: Rahaf’s surgery on 15 January, successfuly removed the plates holding her femur together.  She is recovering in the hospital in Erbil for a … Continue reading RAHAF – operation to remove plate successful

In February 2017 a 10 year old girl suffered burns to 70% of her body during bombing of her family home in Mosul. Her fingers on her left hand had completed fused and she has no use of her right hand. By the time we met Reem, in May, in the hospital in Erbil, she was … Continue reading REEM – recovery and rehabilitation in Italy

My diary entry from May 2017 when we were in Erbil, Iraq. The female doctor takes us through the hospital complex to a separate, run down building where most of the rooms are empty. As we walk through the grounds, many family groups of people sit in the garden, on mats and carpeting, holding their … Continue reading MUHAMMED – returned to Mosul

Yasir was a very sick 9 year old boy when we learnt of the 17mm stone in his kidney.    Darya, our pharmacist friend organised to transport Yasir, his mother and younger siblings from the camp to hospital in Erbil.  Darya then organised the necessary paperwork, xrays, tests, blood, bought the pharmacutical items, food and … Continue reading YASIR – Successful Surgery

Muhamed sustained shrapnel in his buttock in air strikes in Mosul in March 2017. He  was in constant pain and not sleeping well when Darya, our pharmacist friend, contacted me to ask if Operation Hope could fund the surgery required to remove the shrapnel. Funds from the Operation Hope Christmas appeal paid for the USD700 surgery. … Continue reading MUHAMED – Surgery successful