“Could it be anyone other than Sanaa?”

Salam first laid eyes on Sanaa when they were 16. He saw her green eyes and knew it was love.

32 years of love, marriage, building a family, escaping the war from Iraq, and many other sweet and bitter moments were parasitized by cancer, as it stole a place in Salam’s body.

During a visit from Hamsa -SANAD’s nurse- last week, and after she made sure he was stable and not in any pain, and after giving Sanaa instructions on how she can take care of him in the best way possible during this stage of the disease and supplying her with the necessary medication to treat his symptoms, she noticed that Salam looked a bit down.

“Come on Salam! Where’s the big spirit? You’re still young, we’re going to find you a bride.”

A faint smile on Salam’s lips turns to a cheeky laugh when he looks over and notices Sanaa next to him, eyes full with anticipation as she awaited his response.

“If you find me a bride I’m ready to marry her this instant.”

“Nice!”, Hamsa responds jokingly, “and what would she look like?”

“She has blonde hair”

“And what else?”

“Green eyes”

“And what else?”

“She’s 16”

“How old were you when you guys met?” Hamsa asks Sanaa after noticing her laughing at his response.

“I was 16”

“Salam! Those are Sanaa’s characteristics!”

“Of course it’s Sanaa, could it be anyone other than Sanaa?”

Calm, sweet little moments that would otherwise be lost in the rush and lights of a hospital.

Moments that belong at home, with the family.

*Picture and story published with permission.