Ahmad tragically lost both of his parents and his brother in an airstrike in Beit Hanoun, Gaza, on October 8th, 2023. At just 4 years old, Ahmad struggled to immediately comprehend the gravity of what had happened to him. With little time to recover, he was hastily taken to a refugee camp with the remaining surviving members of his family.

In the camp, Ahmad’s uncle Saleh took him by his small hand for what should have been a routine run to the market. However, another airstrike at the market resulted in the death of his uncle and the tragic severing of both of little Ahmad’s legs.

Surviving two consecutive air strikes, Ahmad awoke as an orphan and a double amputee in Shuhada al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, a town further south.

Emerging from surgery, Ahmad faced the harsh reality. The only available pain medication was Paracetamol, typically prescribed for headaches.

In addition to the loss of his parents, Ahmad had to be informed that his immediate guardian after his parents’ passing, his beloved uncle, had also succumbed to the second airstrike.

The unbearable news followed that both of Ahmad’s legs were now amputated. At only four years old, a child who had recently learned to walk must now embark on the challenging journey of learning to walk once again.