In late 2023 Mahmoud and his family were one of only a few thousand Syrians (out of more than 5 million still displaced in its neighboring countries) to be resettled in the United States. But before they could start building a new life here, they had to endure another challenging season of separation.
Starting with Strength
“My son’s personality is that he’s strong. He became paralyzed when he was 10 years old and now, he is almost 18. He is the source of our strength as a family, me and my daughters and my wife.”
When we asked Mahmoud about sharing a small part of his family’s story with you (our community of volunteers, partners, donors, and followers) this is how he started. Talking over speaker phone from his apartment in West Chicago, he said with a chuckle, “Omar is here now. He’s listening to your questions and he’s smiling.”
The family needed incredible strength when they arrived in the U.S. last year. Brand new in a country where they didn’t know the language or culture or how to get around, they found out Omar would need to stay in a hospital rehab center for 6-8 weeks due to health complications.
“I spent every day at the hospital with Omar and slept there. I was there 24/7,” said Mahmoud. “It is an hour and a half from our apartment, so thankfully the hospital and agency provided transportation and it wasn’t so tiring for the rest of my family to go back and forth.”
Your Part in the Story
From the day the family arrived at the airport, you walked with our staff as they provided vital support in the areas of housing, employment, interpretation, educational support, intensive medical case management and more. Our team has worked to ensure a smooth connection with dozens of other human care professionals and volunteers to labor for the family’s stability and well-being.
Finally, after 3 months, Omar was able to join his family at home, where he now receives in-home medical support seven days a week. He also works on an Individual Education Plan with special mobility tools provided by the local school his sisters attend. But best of all, his family can enjoy being together.
Togetherness and the Future
“His little sister Layan is always by his bedside,” says Mahmoud. “She amuses him. She draws pictures for him and asks his opinion. They play Roblox and Minecraft on the tablet all the time.”
Mahmoud now works nights stocking shelves at Walmart. He is often tired and worries about finding the time and energy to learn English. The road of growth and adjustment ahead of them is long, but in his tired eyes you see the caring spark of a proud and tender father.
“My hope for all my kids is that they will have a comfortable, lovely life,” he says. “That they’ll achieve a lot through their education, gain knowledge, and be the best people they can be.”
You can invite more neighbors and churches to create lasting change for refugees and other immigrants in Chicagoland.