Healthcare as a Refugee
Dialysis in a Tent City
My name is Yasmin. I’m 18 years old and have been in Jordan for 9 years. I came from a village outside of Damascus, Syria. I now live in a tent city in Jordan with my family. I have one sister and three brothers.
My family migrated to Jordan because of the Syrian war. I remember Syria from my childhood and miss it. I miss our home there. Jordan has given us refuge.
I’ve had kidney disease for the last 3 years and get dialysis three times a week. I found out I had kidney disease after getting tired a lot. We went to a doctor that gave me the diagnosis. We got a second opinion from a doctor who affirmed the diagnosis.
On a typical day, I wake up at 8am, brush my teeth, have breakfast with my family before my brothers go to school. After spending the day with my family, we have dinner together.
I used to go to school, but stopped after discovering my kidney disease at 15 years old. I enjoy learning at home. Going back to school felt uncomfortable with my weekly dialysis schedule.
The best anyone can have is health. And I’m hopeful to regain mine.
If I had a crystal ball, I’d wish for a new kidney, a house of our own with a little garden, and to pay off my dad’s debts.
My father watches goats for a living. We don’t own any goats. We pay 55 JD (Jordanian Dinar) for dialysis, 10 JD for transportation and another 10 JD for blood transfusion. (TSOS note: that’s roughly 900 JD for treatment out of pocket every month. The average monthly salary in Jordan is 600-800 JD.)
My faith in god gives me hope that I’ll get better.
I’d tell anyone else in my position to have faith in god and be patient.
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