Resilience in a Plastic Tub: Rahma's Unyielding Spirit

The story of Rahma Haruna from Nigeria reminds us to deeply appreciate every breath we take in a healthy and painless body. There are people in these world, like Rahma, for whom even breathing, the simplest of actions, is a daily, painful challenge.

Until she was six months old, Rahma was considered a healthy, regular baby. Then, in a miraculous and unexplained medical situation, her body’s development halted while her head continued to grow. According to her mother, Fadi, this happened as Rahma was learning to sit, just before she could crawl.

Fadi sought answers from dozens of doctors, hoping at least one could explain the puzzling condition. Yet, none could provide a definitive explanation for her state.

In spite of everything, the family never gave up. They decided to keep Rahma with them and invest in her care as much as possible, despite the difficulty of carrying around the small tub where she lives.

Rahma's 10-year-old brother, Fahad, took on many duties related to her care and feels honored to carry Rahma in the tub she lives in every day. "I love taking her on walks to visit relatives in our village and am happy to see that others help take care of her too. She really enjoys the daily walks I take her on."

For 15 years, Rahma’s family has searched for any treatment that might help her condition, but to no avail. Nothing has worked so far, even as her father, Hussaini, has sold nearly all of the family’s possessions to fund her treatments. And what does Rahma herself feel within her misshapen body? "I don't give up on my situation because this is what Hashem decided for me. I just dream of starting a small shop of my own, where people can buy everything and visit me every day," she said.