At the age of eleven, while most boys his age were beginning to explore the world, Johny's world came crashing down. He had been a lively child, full of energy and curiosity, spending his days running through the streets of Beirut, kicking a football with his friends and wandering through the narrow alleys. But then came the relentless headaches, the dizziness, and the moments of confusion that no one could explain. His parents, worried but hopeful it was nothing serious, took him to the local clinic, only to be told their worst fear: Johny had a brain tumor.
In an instant, his childhood was shattered. Instead of classrooms, Johny's days were spent in hospital rooms, surrounded by machines and the quiet murmurs of concerned doctors. The diagnosis was aggressive brain cancer, and the treatment was harsh. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries became Johny's new reality. His once energetic body grew weak, his hair fell out, and the light in his eyes dimmed as he endured endless rounds of treatment.
Beirut, a city filled with life and movement, seemed like a different world as Johny lay in his hospital bed, staring at the ceiling. His friends continued to play outside, oblivious to the battles he was fighting. The only sounds that filled his days were the beeping of medical equipment and the quiet sobs of his mother, who tried her best to stay strong for him. His father, often unable to afford the gas to visit every day due to Lebanon's ever deepening economic crisis, would sit by Johny's bedside in the evenings, telling him stories of a better Beirut, a city that had once been the Paris of the Middle East.
But even in the best hospitals, Lebanon's crumbling infrastructure was evident. Power outages were frequent, and medications were scarce. Johny's family often had to scramble to find essential drugs from pharmacies or rely on relatives abroad to send what the hospitals could not provide. The history of Lebanon seemed to echo through Johny's battle with cancer, where survival felt like an uphill climb.
YOU ARE READING
SHADOWS OF BEIRUT
AdventureIn the vibrant, chaotic city of Beirut, a place where the Mediterranean's waves collided with crumbling shores, a boy named Johny was born. His home was nestled deep in the heart of the city, surrounded by the echoes of honking cars, the smell of sh...
