Families were asleep across southern and central Turkey when a severe earthquake hit the region in the early morning of Feb. 6, 2023. A second quake followed hours later. Both caused extensive damage, devastating towns and cities.
“It happened so fast,” said 17-year-old Ilayda. “We were sleeping and heard a loud boom; we got up and ran to the hallway. Then the floor dropped out, and we fell through.”
Hope and healing for all
Shriners Children’s treats children from around the world who are affected by natural disasters, war and other catastrophes. Believing that every child deserves a chance to thrive and live life to their fullest potential, the healthcare system welcomes the opportunity to provide specialized medical care to all who need it.
Last year, Shriners Children’s received referrals from 108 countries, including children from Ukraine, Gaza and Turkey. More than 70 patients from Gaza have been referred to Shriners Children’s, and 21 have received or are currently receiving care, while 26 more are being evaluated. Since 2022, Shriners Children’s has helped or is currently helping nearly two dozen patients from Ukraine.
After the earthquake in Turkey, six children were brought to Shriners Children’s for care.
After disaster comes hope
In the rubble of her home after the earthquake, Ilayda’s left leg was pinned under a concrete pillar, causing severe damage to her foot.
Ilayda was treated at Shriners Children’s Spokane. Aided by the Turkey Club of Emirat Shriners and supported by the philanthropy team, who raised significant funds for non-medical expenses, she and the other five children each traveled to one of five locations for treatment: Spokane, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Chicago and Boston.
The children received surgical interventions, rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapies as well as prosthetic services and months of follow-up care. In addition to their physical needs, Shriners Children’s care teams provided what we call wrap-around care – supporting social and emotional well-being.
“Dr. Baird saved my daughter’s leg,” said Ilayda’s mother, Mine, referring to Shriners Children’s Spokane orthopedic surgeon Glen O. Baird, M.D. “I cannot explain how much this means to us. Ilayda can live a normal life because of the love and the care he has shown her.”
Moataz got to meet many athletes during his time at Shriners Children’s,
including retired baseball star Sammy Sosa (right).
Moataz, 10, also injured in the earthquake, was treated at Shriners Children’s Chicago. He received not just life-changing care but also made memories of a lifetime. He required a leg amputation and came to Chicago for orthopedic care, prosthetics and rehabilitation therapy. Lauren Kells, a certified prosthetist in the hospital’s Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services department, introduced their young patient to adaptive soccer. Then he got to meet athletes, some of whom are also missing limbs and can play the game they love at a high level.
“Watching him go from stretching in his chair to blocking shots on the ground was incredible to watch and showed his resilience,” Lauren shared. Moataz even got to meet retired baseball star Sammy Sosa!
Care beyond borders
Ahd, from Gaza, is all smiles after Shriners Children’s provided her with a specially tailored prosthetic leg, enabling
her to walk again after a traumatic event.
Ahd, who is from Gaza, is another international patient whose life was profoundly impacted by Shriners Children’s dedicated care providers.
After Ahd was badly injured, her uncle had to amputate her leg on their dining table with no anesthesia, but her situation remained dire: An infection threatened her remaining leg.
But Shriners Children’s medical teams are devoted to finding a way to say, “Yes, we can help.” Ahd was treated at Shriners Children’s, where specialists worked tirelessly to preserve her health and prevent further complications. Shriners Children’s also provided Ahd with a specially tailored prosthetic leg, enabling her to walk again.
“The kindness and compassion shown by Shriners Children’s employees significantly improved Ahd’s emotional well-being, not just her physical health,” said Tareq Hailat, a member of a nonprofit group who helped connect Ahd and Shriners Children’s. “She often expressed how much she loved the Shriners Children’s staff, particularly Hope, the nurse who became an integral part of her daily journey toward recovery. This emotional support was as vital to her healing as the medical care she received.”
