“I wanted a prosthetic leg so they would stop harassing me”

Fourteen-year-old Firas had just returned home from school in Syria when his house was shelled.

Shrapnel from the explosion flew through the air at the speed of a bullet, hitting Firas in his legs. He was rushed to hospital across the border in Lebanon but his injuries were so bad that his right leg had to be amputated.

Watch Firas tell his story

After six months in hospital Firas went to live with his family, who had moved to Lebanon in search of safety from the fighting.

At first, Firas felt ashamed and refused to leave the house. The children in his new neighbourhood were making fun of him because of his injuries.

“One day my family took me out in a wheelchair. All the kids laughed at me. I wanted to have a prosthetic leg so they would stop harassing me”, he says.

Luckily, Firas was found by Handicap International's team who were determined to help him walk. We provided him with a walking frame and the physiotherapy he desperately needed so that he could build up his muscles and balance. When he built up enough strength, he was fitted with a prosthetic leg and took his first steps.

With a lot of practice, Firas slowly got used to his new leg. Finally he was able to go back to school and he has even learnt to ride a bicycle again.

Firas’ favourite hobby is finding and repairing old bikes. He has even made a small trailer so that he can take his little brother out with him when he rides around the neighbourhood.