Raja Shubak is a 9 years old girl who lives in the Yazibagh camp “Kroom”, north of A’zaz near the Syrian-Turkish border, with her mother and brothers in a tent as her father died 6 years ago.
Raja suffered from congenital heart disease at birth and was receiving treatment, but as a result of their displacement, their financial status deteriorated and she was unable to peruse her treatment with a specialist which led to catastrophic complication in March 2019 as she suffered from Stroke.
Raja was brought to Emergency Department in Martyr Dr. Mohammad Wassim Ma’az Hospital in northern Aleppo. The medical examination, in addition to laboratory and radiology tests, revealed left hemiplegia (paralysis in her left upper and lower limbs), in addition to renal dysfunction.
Raja was not like her peers; she was not able to play like the other children nor could she go to school or does the routine daily activities like drinking water by herself or combing her hair or even go to the bathroom alone. Raja was feeling lonely as she was deprived of playing with other kids because of her disability which affected her psychological status.
After her medical condition stabilized in the pediatric department, Raja was referred to the physiotherapy department in the hospital for functional physiotherapy sessions to help her performing the daily activities.
Raja entered the physiotherapy department under the medical care of Mrs. Najlaa Kaddoura the head of the physiotherapy department where a treatment plan was developed for 18 sessions.
The plan aimed to strengthen the muscles’ tone of the upper and lower left limbs, in addition to enhancing the meticulous movements, the ability to walk for long distances without external help, and exercises to enhance balance.
In parallel with the physiotherapy plan, a psychosocial support plan was also developed by the psychosocial team to empower Raja and elevate her spirit as the psychological factor plays a major role in accelerating the healing process and restoring the patient’s confidence by reintegrating the patient into the society after a period of isolation.
Raja has achieved huge progress and success after the treatment plan was completed, her motor skills were remarkably improved, to the extent of the possibility of going back to school again and playing with her friends, we could give her hope and draw the smile on her face again.
Raja now visits the physiotherapy center routinely to monitor her condition and progress and the staff is following up her status in cooperation with her family to ensure her stability and maintain the success we could achieve.
The physiotherapy center in Martyr Dr. Mohammad Wassim Ma’az Hospital opened its door for patients in early 2018 in partnership with Humanity and Inclusion “HI”.
The center was provided with the necessary medical equipment and modern technology in addition to distinguished medical staff, it provides physiotherapy and rehabilitation services for patients with motor disabilities and postoperative follow up. The physiotherapy center provides about 550 physiotherapy sessions per month in addition to assistive devices.
