Fortunately, with help from the Hebron Charitable Medical Center, Rabab has begun cutting down on smoking and is getting her health back on track. What attracts Rabab and hundreds of other disadvantaged families to this particular center is the minimal fees, free medication and trustworthy doctors.
"I was 34 when I had my first hookah. It made me feel dizzy and nauseous," says Rabab, now 39, describing her first experience with smoking. “I wanted to smoke after I was introduced to hookah at large social gatherings. These relaxed settings usually have a fun atmosphere, and they make smoking look very attractive. It's common in Hebron to hear that 'no gathering is complete without a hookah.”
Rabab and her husband both live and work in Hebron and face many financial pressures. "My husband and I live under a lot of pressure to provide for our family which I think brings me to smoke. But there is no real excuse for it. My husband doesn't even smoke! It's just my addiction that I gravely regret."
Fortunately, with help from the Hebron Charitable Medical Center, Rabab has begun cutting down on smoking and is getting her health back on track. Her main goal is to quit smoking altogether.
"When Rabab came in to see me a couple of months ago, she was breathing heavily," explains Dr. Wael Al-Rajabi at the medical center. "She's had asthma for two years, and we had tried giving her several inhalers, but none of them made her feel significantly better. Lucky for her, we had a new delivery from Anera that included Spiriva inhalers. She took one home and came back later to tell me excitedly that it was actually helping."
Rabab elaborates, "Other inhalers would relieve me for a couple of hours only. Now I use the inhaler twice a day, and I don't feel shortness of breath during the day anymore. I sleep well too. Before, I had problems sleeping because lying down made my breathing worse." Trying to sleep used to be the worst part of Rabab's day, but now she can enjoy a night’s rest and breath easy.
The medication, donated by long-time partner Americares, helps Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and bronchial asthma patients breathe better. What attracts Rabab and hundreds of other disadvantaged families to this particular center is the minimal fees, free medication and trustworthy doctors. Donors like Americares are enabling these families to lead healthier lives while alleviating some of the financial burdens they are forced to live under.
