'Deadly ball' changed his life forever

Abu Dhabi: Five years ago, Shehada Zyoud picked up a ball on a street in Selet Al Harthia, a town 10 kilometres from Jenin, Palestine, and became yet another silent victim of the Israeli occupation.

It was a child's reflex, one that changed the boy's life. Little did Shehada know that he had picked up an unexploded shell.

He bears scars on his right forearm, another on the palm of his hand with which he picked up the fated 'toy', left behind by the Israeli Defence Forces.

Shehada has a little limp, the only indication that this 15-year-old boy lost his right leg that day. Five years after the accident, Shehada is in Abu Dhabi, waiting for a new prosthetic leg to support his growing frame.

Using crutches

Rana Al Khatib and John Habib, volunteers with the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), which provides medical care and treatment for sick and injured children in war-torn countries, are taking care of Shehada currently.

Rana and Habib had previously housed sick Palestinian children when they lived in the US, one of whom was Shehada.

"We picked him up from Palestine in 2004 and he stayed with us for five months in Arizona," says Al Khatib, a writer. "They had given him a prosthetic leg there [Palestine], but it was very heavy so Shehada couldn't use it. He used crutches instead. So he came to the US to get a new prosthesis and physical therapy."

The bond between Shehada, Rana and Habib is silent yet evident. He is taciturn, but once in a while he smiles at either one of his caretakers, who have taken to calling him "Slim Shady".

"Since he's taller now, he needs a new prosthesis again," explains Al Khatib. "He's limping, which can be bad for his spine, so he needs a longer leg and a new socket. The Dynamic Rehab and Medical Equipment Centre in Sharjah will be providing us with the prosthesis, but we need to raise funds to get it."

Shehada doesn't talk much about the accident, and he says he doesn't remember much either. He recalls being about 100 metres from his house when he crouched down to pick up the ball, and only remembers seeing his brother run away after the explosion to get help.

Doctors tried to save his right leg, but realised nothing could be done and amputated it soon after.

"We hear about things like this every day," says Al Khatib.

"Shehada is a silent victim like many others, but what people don't realise is that he is someone's son, or someone's brother. Their suffering is real but we don't know about their stories. Shehada has become such a part of us, I feel his pain and I can't stand to see him suffering.

"He doesn't talk about it much, but I want people to realise the price he's had to pay. He was born a complete person, but his leg was taken away from him."