By Bejay Browne.
An eight-year-old Syrian boy living in Paphos returned to Cyprus in May with his father, after undergoing a life-saving operation for a brain tumour in Germany.
Ahmed Al Shiko was rushed to Germany in January, accompanied by his father Abdo, after doctors at Makarios hospital decided he needed to be transferred for specialised surgery. He had been at Makarios hospital for around two weeks and undergone an operation there, but it wasn’t successful.
Ahmed was kept in an induced coma for some time, following his operation in Germany, and will now complete his treatment in Cyprus.
Although the state paid for the child’s medical treatment, the cost of the father’s flights to and from Germany, food and accommodation were not covered.
Following an appeal for the family, Caritas, One Dream, One Wish Foundation – the Cyprus association for children with cancer and related diseases and members of the public donated funds and nappies and baby milk to the family, which has been a tremendous help.
Some of the money was sent to Abdo, the child’s father, who had to stay in Germany with his son and helped to cover the cost of his accommodation and food.
Ahmed will start further treatment here in Cyprus that includes chemotherapy and physiotherapy.
The family arrived in Cyprus around ten months ago, fleeing Aleppo in Syria and claimed asylum.
