At 27 days old, Rafik was peacefully asleep in his cot when a nearby explosion shattered the windows of his house which caught fire.

The room looked like hell, says his mother.

This little child, barely out of his mother’s womb, had sustained severe burns to his small face and body. His life, which had barely started, was forever marked by this horrible incident.

Rafik’s parents were displaced and made it to Lebanon, where they started to look for urgent help for their son. His mother didn’t want his whole life to be centered around his injury. She wanted him to have a life, a chance, possibilities.

The scarring on Rafik’s face is so tight, that when INARA’s case workers met with him, they immediately noticed how he struggled to open and close his eyes and mouth. Even eating was uncomfortable for this small child. Upon seeing the extent of his injuries, INARA immediately stepped in and considered his case as a one of our high priorities.

When we introduced him to our team of doctors, they said that he will need different types of surgeries and interventions for his face. To this day, Rafik has undergone reconstructive surgeries for his mouth, ear, and nose, where doctors inserted a piece of his cartilage. He was coming in for his co2 laser treatment sessions and was receiving cortisol injections. Rafik comes in for follow ups every few months as he will need further treatment and surgeries as he grows older. He is due to come in April of 2022.