At the early age of four months old, Awad Abed Rabbo Nasser, a young boy from Somalia had an operation on his head to remove fluids from his skull due to his ascites (fluids in the brain). He underwent a complicated operation to install a brain filter that removes access fluids from his head.
 
Seventeen years later, the symptoms of his ascites returned. The implanted device (filter) no longer functioned, which caused him serious complications that almost lead to permanent damage to one of his eyes and one of his ear as well as congestion in the blood vessels in his head.
 
“He was suffering for about five months before we decided to take him to Al- Rahbi Medical Center in the capital Sana'a, which is supervised by the Yemen Family Care Association. He was in bad condition. He was then referred to The Republican Hospital in Sana'a for an urgent operation at the expense of the Association and the UNHCR project for the support and protection of refugees.
 The surgery was very complex but successful. Awad was given a new device (filter) and it replaced the old one which saved his life.” Stated his sister.
 
Twenty days after the operation, we met with Awad and his family. They have confirmed that his life began to gradually return to normal and that his eye and ear, which were affected by the ascites, are clearly improving.
 
"I want to become a doctor to save the lives of others, just as my life was saved and as I was given new hope to live" stated Awad
His eyes glistening with hope and sadness. Awad had suffered along with his eight siblings from the loss of their parents and their difficult living conditions as Somali immigrants in Yemen. The help he has received has once again given them hope for a new life in which there is no sense of despair.