Her name is Ryma

Who I am…does not matter. My name is not the name I want you to remember. I am only here to tell you about a person who is dear to me. A person who is incredibly smart and kind and humble and suffering…and patient. She is my friend and like my sister.

Her name is Ryma.

She is 17 years old.

And she was born with a condition called Spina Bifida (lipomyelomeningocele). Some people may be familiar with this condition and what it entails, but for those who don’t, let me explain what this means for her.

Ryma was born in Algeria, which is (as some of you may already know) one of the least advanced countries in regards to healthcare. Her parents sought help for Ryma from the day she was born but were unable to get any kind of treatment in Algeria. At the age of 5, Ryma was brought to the United States for an operation under the supervision of an Algerian neurosurgeon who practiced in the US. Although there were some complications from the 18-hour surgery, there was also great progress for Ryma. With physical therapy, she began walking slowly and had an incredibly promising outlook. However, that triumph was short-lived, as she was soon sent back home to Algeria with the promise of a second surgery within a couple of years. Once there, she was not able to continue the treatment they had started in the US, and year by year, her condition became worse and worse. Ryma developed hydrocephalus and severe scoliosis and soon lost the ability to stand on her own again. Despite this, she and her family did not lose hope and they continued to search for a doctor who was willing to take on her case and help her stand on her feet again. Finally, in 2018, she contacted Shriner’s hospital in Chicago and they responded with an invitation to come to Chicago for treatment. In February of 2022, Ryma and her mother, Lila, came to Chicago and met with a team of surgeons, all from different specialties. After multiple MRIs, X-Rays and various other tests, the surgeons decided the surgery was too risky. Instead, they suggested long-term physical therapy to help treat her scoliosis and they are hopeful that it will give Ryma the freedom to move on her own and–more importantly–live a life without pain.

Ryma currently has one year left on her visa and she is looking for a place to stay for the remaining time she is in the US. Because of her condition and the lack of handicap accessibility in Algeria, her education was something that Ryma had always dreamed of continuing. Thankfully, she is now enrolled in high school and is incredibly grateful for the chance to finish her senior year and she is hoping for a chance to continue her higher education in the US as well.

Ryma is ten years younger than me, but I can honestly say that her level of intelligence humbles me. Her patience baffles me. And her hope is so bright, it pains me to watch her suffer.

For those of you who want to help financially, we are all eternally grateful and we pray that Allah SWT grants you health and prosperity in this dunya and the highest levels of Jannah.

For those of you who cannot afford to help financially, we would appreciate sharing this message with your friends and family, and may Allah SWT grant you ease and peace of mind.

And for anyone who wants to talk directly to the family, their contact number is below.

Lila and Ryma’s cell phone number: 4197700433