Fatma’s Story: Strength in Small Steps

Trapped for weeks in a hospital under siege, Fatma’s early life in Aleppo, Syria, was marked by danger and uncertainty. She was only three years old when she fell ill with a high fever. With hospitals destroyed by bombing and doctors left without medicine or equipment, her family had to travel for hours in search of help. Eventually, her grandmother carried her to Damascus, but it was already too late—Fatma suffered irreversible damage, leaving her with cerebral palsy, a permanent reminder of the terror and loss she endured as a child.

“My daughter was so smart and beautiful. Then one day she couldn’t control her body, she was paralysed.”
— Nadia, Fatma’s mother

As the war escalated, Nadia made the heartbreaking decision to flee Aleppo with her four children. They travelled for three days under the cover of night, leaving behind everything they knew.

“The bombing was relentless. We had no money, and I was so afraid for my children.”

The family eventually found refuge in Türkiye, where millions of Syrians have sought safety. Six years later, Nadia describes the moment Ummah Care Foundation opened its community centre in Şanlıurfa as life-changing:

“When Ummah Care Foundation opened its doors to us, we found community here. So many mothers are in my position, with children who struggle with their health and movement. My life was finished in Syria, but now we have real help from wonderful people who care.”

Healing, Learning, and Friendship

For the past three years, Fatma has attended the centre regularly. During this time, she underwent surgery to help correct her legs. Without consistent physiotherapy afterward, however, she developed scoliosis, which made her journey even more challenging.

Thanks to ongoing physiotherapy, learning opportunities, and the encouragement of compassionate staff, Fatma has made remarkable progress. Today, she can walk again, communicate, laugh, and enjoy the friendships she has built.

“With four children to look after on my own, it’s so difficult for me to help my daughter. UCF has been incredible. The kindness shown, the friendships I’ve made – it feels like a wonderful community of people, almost like being back in Syria.”
— Nadia