“ What made me happiest was seeing Elias sitting in his shop again with his son and the neighbors, even though he still couldn’t work properly, and when I went to greet him, I found signs of happiness on his face”. The words of Musa, the operator who took care of Elias’ physiotherapy and treatment, perfectly describe the result achieved: the man started moving and speaking again. Gradually, with difficulty, he showed increasingly tangible signs of improvement. And now seeing him there, sitting in the shop, is a satisfaction for everyone . The AMU Syria Emergency Seeds of Hope program in Syria supported his physical therapy journey, which was not easy. Elias had suddenly felt ill, at night. He had lost the use of a hand and a leg, the illness had undermined his ability to articulate words. 
Suddenly, the man was no longer able to walk or talk properly, he could no longer go to work in his minimarket and, as a result, he was unable to take care of his family. The initial treatment had been long and expensive, and had taken away all the savings he had put aside until that point. The lack of autonomy and the economic difficulties dejected Elias. In addition, his son had had to leave his job to be by his side.
Elias’ family then turned to the physiotherapy service of the Seeds of Hope project, which in Syria assists families in need of medical care and also provides them with the necessary medications . This was also the case for Elias. The young therapist Musa began to follow him, he was by his side encouraging him not to give up. Little by little, not without suffering, Elias was able to move his hand and leg. His speech improved. He regained his health and optimism. That’s why he now sits smiling in the family minimarket, waiting to be able to return to work.
