At first glance, nine-year-old Adam looks like any other boy his age. He’s thin, perhaps, due to malnutrition, but playful, a little bit cheeky, and full of love for his parents and his brother. What makes him different might seem like a small thing, but it affects his life in a big way: some of his fingers failed to separate properly in the womb, so they’re fused together. His mother, Heba, wants him to have an operation that will give him the chance of living a normal life, but the circumstances in which they’re living make that difficult to achieve.
“Life was full of happiness and we dreamed of owning a house, which we finally achieved after much hardship and struggle,” says Heba of the years leading up to 7 October 2023. “We lived a simple but secure life. We had a home, a school, and small dreams to hold onto. We planned for the future and only worried about ordinary things. But then the war came and took that away.”
Adam’s life with syndactyly
Before they lost their home and were forced to move from place to place, eventually ending up in a tent, Heba’s biggest day to day worry was about Adam’s hands.
“When I first discovered that Adam’s fingers were fused, I felt shocked and deeply afraid. As a mother, my first thoughts were about his future: Would he suffer? Would he be able to live a normal life? I tried to be strong in front of him, but inside I was terrified and heartbroken.
“The doctors told us that Adam’s condition is called syndactyly, and that it can be treated with surgery. They explained that early surgical intervention would help him use his hands normally. However, the surgery requires specialised surgeons and equipment that are not available in Gaza, in addition to a cost that we cannot afford.
“Adam began to notice that his hands were different when he grew older and started comparing himself to other children.
He would ask me, “Why are my hands not like theirs?”
That question broke my heart every time.
Sometimes I see him hiding his hands or hesitating to play. Yes, it has affected his confidence, especially when he notices people staring or hears comments from other children.
“Sometimes there are looks of curiosity or pity, and sometimes comments that are not meant to be cruel but still hurt. Adam is very sensitive, and these moments make him quiet and sad. As a mother, it hurts me deeply to see the effect this has on his emotional well-being.”
Adam’s disability also causes him practical problems.
“There are many simple things that are difficult for him: holding objects properly, writing, playing freely, and even some daily tasks. What hurts me most is that he is a child who wants to play like other children, but his hands sometimes hold him back.”
How surgery could help
Getting surgery while Adam is still young would make it easier for him to learn all the basic skills that other people take for granted, and would help him to acquire more independence as he gets older.
“We are hoping for a surgery to separate Adam’s fingers so he can use his hands normally. This operation would completely change his life – not only physically, but emotionally as well. It would give him the chance to live without pain, limitation, or feeling different,” Heba explains.
“We will need to travel outside Gaza to a specialised hospital, because the necessary medical facilities are not available here. The cost of the surgery, travel, and treatment is very high compared to our current situation, and it is far beyond what we can afford after the war and the loss of almost everything.”
Adam says:
I want to be like the other children. I want to play and write freely. I dream that my hand will become normal
Heba has been through some very difficult things since the war began, but her ambitions for her family are simple.
“My first hope is that Adam receives the treatment he needs and grows up without pain or shame. I dream of seeing him confident, learning, playing, and dreaming like any other child.
“For my family, I hope for a safe life, a home that protects our children, and a future where we do not have to ask for help just to live with dignity.”
If you would like to help Heba save up for Adam’s treatment, you can donate to her fundraiser.
