December 2024 should have been a time of childhood memories for young Amjad Shurrab. Instead, it was the month his world—and his body—went quiet.
A devastating injury to his spinal cord (the 7th vertebra) didn’t just take away his ability to walk. It stole the simple, everyday dignity of being a ten-year-old boy. Today, Amjad doesn’t run, jump, or play. He is paralysed from the chest down, confined to a wheelchair and a bed, facing a reality that would break most adults.
A Father’s Silent Agony
There is a specific kind of pain in a parent’s voice when they talk about a “shattered” future. Amjad’s father describes his son as being in the “bloom of his youth,” yet he spends his days managing complications that are harrowing to hear about.
Because Amjad has no sensation from the chest down, his skin is breaking. He is suffering from deep, angry pressure sores across his back, his seat, and his sides. Without the ability to move or feel, these ulcers have become a constant threat to his life.
“I die every single day I look at him,” his father says. It’s not just the paralysis; it’s the indignity of the permanent catheters and nappies and the relentless infections that follow.
Five Days of Fever, Two Days of Peace
Life for Amjad has become a cruel cycle. For five days out of every week, he is trapped in a haze of high fevers, shivering fits, and exhaustion. His white blood cell count rockets as his body tries to fight off constant infections. In these days, he can’t eat. He can’t drink. He just endures.
Then, for maybe two days a week, the fever breaks. You see a glimpse of the boy he used to be—smiling, quiet, and hopeful. But his family knows the cycle will start all over again unless something changes. Currently, they are covering the cost of every bandage and bottle of medicine themselves, but they are running out of time and resources.
The Mission: Why We’re Here
At Watan UK, we encounter children like “Amjad” who have suffered life-altering injuries due to unforeseen circumstances. Our work isn’t just about handing out food; it’s about intervention.
Amjad needs specialist surgery and intensive rehabilitation that simply isn’t available to him right now. He needs a medical transfer to a facility abroad that can treat his spinal injury and clear the infections that are slowly draining his strength.
We are his voice, but you are his hope.
How You Can Help
Amjad’s father has issued a “cry for help” to anyone who will listen. He isn’t asking for the world; he is asking for his son to have a life where he isn’t in constant pain.
Your donation to Watan UK goes directly toward medical evacuations, specialist surgeries, and the long-term care required to get children like Amjad back on their feet—or at the very least, out of a cycle of agony.
Please, click here to donate to our Medical Emergency Fund. Give Amjad a chance to see his eleventh birthday without the shadow of a fever.
Common Questions About Our Medical Relief
How does my money reach Amjad?
Watan UK operates on the ground. When you donate to a medical case, the funds are allocated to the specific costs of treatment, including hospital fees, specialised equipment (like pressure-relief mattresses), and the logistics of medical transfers.
What is the “Medical Transfer” process?
For cases as severe as Amjad’s, local hospitals often lack the technology to perform spinal nerve repair. We work with international partners to secure “referrals” or “transfers,” ensuring the child is moved safely to a facility that can provide the necessary level of care.
Why are pressure sores so dangerous for him?
When someone is paralysed, they cannot feel the “pain” that tells a person to shift their weight. This leads to ulcers that can reach the bone, causing sepsis (blood poisoning). For a child like Amjad, these are life-threatening without daily specialist nursing care.
Can I gift a donation in someone else’s name?
Yes. Many of our donors choose to make a “Sadaqah Jariyah” donation in the name of a loved one. It is a beautiful way to bring healing to a child while honouring someone you care about.