Gazan Boy Finds Hope in Rehabilitation After Life-Changing Injury**

Despite the pain and challenges, Rami is determined to recover and dreams of playing football again, all while navigating the impacts of war and trauma.**

Rami Qattoush, a resilient nine-year-old boy from Gaza, has recently taken his first steps following a successful surgery in Jordan. After enduring unimaginable hardships, Rami is beginning to reclaim his life. Last month, he received permission to evacuate Gaza for medical treatment at a specialized facility in Amman, Jordan, where hopes of recovery emerged after doctors in Gaza initially suggested amputation.

As he tentatively kicked a football—a symbol of his dreams of becoming a player like Cristiano Ronaldo—Rami's mother, Islam Qattoush, glowed with pride despite the visible scars and pain he carries. His journey from being bedridden and in significant discomfort to taking small yet pivotal strides represents a beacon of hope for him and countless others affected by the ongoing conflict.

On October 7, 2023, an Israeli airstrike targeted their home, shattering the lives of Rami's family. His older brother, Mustafa, was killed, leaving a profound void in the family. The United Nations reports that thousands of children in Gaza have faced fatalities or serious injuries since the onset of the current conflict, emphasizing the dire need for medical evacuations.

Rami was brought to Jordan's Médecins Sans Frontières hospital, where he has received comprehensive care—including surgeries and rehabilitation. Unlike Gaza's struggling healthcare system, which has faced severe shortages, this specialized institution offers multidisciplinary treatment focusing not only on physical healing but also on mental health. Rami is now enrolled in the hospital's "School of the Future," where he engages with education while continuing to recover.

Despite the challenges, including missing his father and younger brother, Rami expresses hope and longing for home, stating, "Gaza is beautiful." As he makes strides in his rehabilitation under the watchful care of dedicated staff, including his physiotherapist, he dreams of playing football again and feeling the sea breeze back home.

Tragically, the psychological scars are equally pronounced, as other young patients in the hospital bear witness to their traumatic experiences. The impact of loss and violence lingers heavily, as seen in the case of another child in the ward, whose mother was killed in an airstrike.

For Rami, each step forward embodies resilience and determination. With permission granted for his brother Abdul Salam to join him in Jordan for prosthetic fitting, the siblings share a newfound hope of walking together again. Rami's journey represents a dedication to healing amidst the atrocities of war—a journey that, while filled with uncertainty, carries the promise of recovery and connection.