An eight-year-old Syrian girl with no legs is now being fitted with professional prosthetics in Turkey after a compassionate doctor saw photos of her struggling to walk using tin cans as makeshift limbs.
Like her father, Maya Merhi was born without legs due to a congenital disorder. The family – with five other children – previously lived in the countryside adjacent to the war-torn city of Aleppo, but were forced to flee to a refugee camp in Idlip, northern Syria, after the fighting endangered their lives.
Living in tents, Maya and her father Mohammed previously moved around by crawling on the dusty ground, but this became more difficult for Maya after recent surgery further reduced the length of her limbs.
“After the operation, she was not able to move around and was sitting the whole time in a tent,” said Maya’s father, Mohammed Merhi.
Maya’s inventive and caring father fashioned together tin cans and tubing that Maya could use to walk upright. She was able to slowly walk herself to the camp school and back every day.
“The situation, in general, was difficult. She was unable to walk so we had to create something for her to protect her from the ground,” said Mohammed.
After pictures and footage of Maya circulated globally, Turkish prosthetics specialist Dr Mehmet Zeki Culcu was moved to reach out to the Turkish Red Crescent, a humanitarian aid organization. They then evacuated Maya and her father from Syria and took them to Istanbul for treatment.
This big-hearted specialist was so touched by Maya’s struggle that he is personally covering the cost of her – and her father’s – new prosthetic legs.
“We have been contacted by people all over the world who want to make the donation. But this issue is closed and I will take on the cost,” said Dr Culcu. “Maya will walk, God willing, in three months time.”
The time spent learning to balance on her makeshift tuna can legs was invaluable; Dr Culcu said she is already accustomed to walking, so should pick up the knack with her new prosthetics more quickly.
Mohammed Merhi will also receive prosthetic limbs and start the long journey of learning to walk, but needs surgery first to make his limbs ready for fitting. He also wants his daughter to complete her process first.
“It’s more important that she can walk so that she is autonomous. It would be like a new life for us,” said her father. “I dream of seeing her walk, going to school and back without suffering.”
After Maya’s first fitting, she took steps with the help of a walker on the basic, shortened prosthetics. Eventually, they will be lengthened to include a knee joint and made longer below the knee.
The Turkish Red Crescent is supporting Maya and her father while they stay in Turkey. Mohammed’s wife and five other children remain in Syria.
I’m so happy to hear that this little girl AND her father are getting prosthetic legs.
This doctor is an Angel oh Earth <3
Best of luck to them, and to that wonderful doctor who helped make this happen.
Wonderful to read this. Such a kind and caring doctor
God bless Dr. Culcu and his big heart. The gift of mobility. Saving two precious lives. Thank you Sir.
Thnak you Dr Culcu for helping Maya and her father, Merhi ! Thank you doctors ! Bless you, God Bless You !
wonderful doctors.
One word. Beautiful❤️
True humanity prevails, thanks to God and Dr. Culcu! This is the most caring and compassionate act of selflessness a doctor could do. Perhaps there are others in the medical field, moved by Dr. Culcu’s compassion, could also help those in countries that have been hit by these cruel and destructive wars.
Thankfully, kindness and compassion still shine through all the cruelty and madness going on in that part of the world. I am impressed with Maya’s resilience and resolve and with her Dad’s ingenuity and inventiveness in making the tuna can legs.
Just goes to show you can’t paint a whole nation with the same brush.
This story left me in tears. What a great humanitarian Dr.Culcu is.
God bless Dr. Mehmet Culcu what a inspiring story & wonderful ending & all because of this extremely generous Doctor. If only there were more people like him in the world life would be so much better for so many people.
What a heartwarming story. The doctor is a true humanitarian. And Maya’s father shows what real parental love is.
‘AMEN’ to all three of your comments!
‘AMEN’ to all three of your comments!
A compassionate, caring and inventive father, and an even more compassionate, caring, understanding and willing doctor. 2 thumbs up for both these men. It’s just too bad a whole lot more of the world can’t open their eyes and see what selflessness and compassion can overcome!!
God bless this man. Best of luck to Maya and her family. Now she can achieve great things!
Thank you Dr. For your humility and compassion.
The Galarneau family