I would like to tell you that I love football a lot and am waiting impatiently to walk again like the rest of the kids to go to swimming and fishing in the sea.

A ray of hope shines from his eyes, and his smile and beautiful laughter bring joy to the hearts of all around him.

Hassan Al-Ashram is a beautiful five-year-old homeless boy from Aleppo who has no parents.

For two months now he has been undergoing treatment for his feet in Akrabat hospital in northern Syria alongside his sister Inas who is also suffering from an injury to her feet.

Hassan says: “Our mom was putting the candle out in my room when, without sound, a barrel bomb dropped on us.

 
Inas was able to get treated for her injuries.

My mother and two sisters died instantly, me and my sister Inas screamed and cried in agony until three men came and lifted us from the rubble and took us to the hospital.

The doctors here have been looking after us and giving us medicines to reduce the pain in our feet.

The doctor told me that they would remove the metal pins in my feet [platinum external fixation].

I am very happy because I will be able to walk and play with my friends. Once the pins have been removed I will start training to walk just like the other kids.

Everyone cares for me here and they give me everything I need. I love the doctors here – they are like mothers to me.

My sister Inas was also injured with me and she has pins in her feet. She has to use crutches to walk and she is waiting for the pins to be removed soon, Allah willing.

Everyone here is good, but I hope to get out of here, walking on my own two feet. I want to become a photographer like you. I’ll take pictures of children and men to show in the daily news.

My friend Ibrahim’s injury is serious. He is staying in the room next to me, but with the grace of Allah he will soon recover. I visit him every day to check on him.

I pray that Allah heals all patients who are in this hospital so they can walk with their own two feet.

And finally I would like to tell you that I love football a lot and am waiting impatiently to walk again like the rest of the kids to go to swimming and fishing in the sea.