After evacuating Gaza to seek crucial medical treatment in Jordan, cancer-stricken patients confront not only their illnesses but the emotional toll of leaving loved ones behind.
Gazan Cancer Patients Battle Illness and Guilt in Jordan
Gazan Cancer Patients Battle Illness and Guilt in Jordan
Amidst ongoing war turmoil, pediatric cancer patients from Gaza face a double challenge—fighting for their health while grappling with homesickness in Jordan.
Article text:
They had fled the horrors of war, but for them, the struggle for survival was far from over. Now, their adversary was cancer. After making the journey from Gaza to Jordan for treatment, these patients faced a new set of challenges. Some traveled with their families, while others leaned on those they met in the hospital, forming makeshift support networks. Yet, the haunting memories of conflict loomed, refusing to fade.
Laura Boushnak documented the experiences of three young cancer patients receiving treatment in Amman, Jordan. On October 25, 2024, she shared the poignant story of 13-year-old Mohammed Ashour, who while feeling a sense of safety in Jordan, lay awake at night plagued by thoughts of his home back in Gaza. The small two-bedroom apartment where his family had sought refuge—crowded with around 70 relatives—was now abandoned, and he couldn't help but wonder what would become of those left behind, especially as their food supplies dwindled.
Israeli officials reported this month that over 4,000 patients had left Gaza for medical treatment since the onset of the war. However, by late June, the World Health Organization noted that more than 10,000 individuals in the enclave were in urgent need of medical care that could only be accessed outside. For the handful of Gazan cancer patients now in Jordan, this reality adds another layer of anguish to their already heavy burdens. As they contend with the physical toll of their illnesses, they also wrestle with feelings of guilt, anxiety, and longing for home.
They had fled the horrors of war, but for them, the struggle for survival was far from over. Now, their adversary was cancer. After making the journey from Gaza to Jordan for treatment, these patients faced a new set of challenges. Some traveled with their families, while others leaned on those they met in the hospital, forming makeshift support networks. Yet, the haunting memories of conflict loomed, refusing to fade.
Laura Boushnak documented the experiences of three young cancer patients receiving treatment in Amman, Jordan. On October 25, 2024, she shared the poignant story of 13-year-old Mohammed Ashour, who while feeling a sense of safety in Jordan, lay awake at night plagued by thoughts of his home back in Gaza. The small two-bedroom apartment where his family had sought refuge—crowded with around 70 relatives—was now abandoned, and he couldn't help but wonder what would become of those left behind, especially as their food supplies dwindled.
Israeli officials reported this month that over 4,000 patients had left Gaza for medical treatment since the onset of the war. However, by late June, the World Health Organization noted that more than 10,000 individuals in the enclave were in urgent need of medical care that could only be accessed outside. For the handful of Gazan cancer patients now in Jordan, this reality adds another layer of anguish to their already heavy burdens. As they contend with the physical toll of their illnesses, they also wrestle with feelings of guilt, anxiety, and longing for home.
