DAY 15th - Saturday 19th December 2009

Today's page is dedicated to Faruq Aktas (Right) a legendary IHH leader who sadly passed away in an airplane crash in Afghanistan in May 2010. He was without a doubt the most humble and nicest person I met throughout this journey, and greatly missed.

 

Woke up feeling the pain. But it was amazing seeing the IHH Turkish Charity, they are amazing because their people make them amazing, all mature and here for the right reasons. Well organised and well disciplined.

 

The first thing we did was rip off our B9 stickers and join the G UNIT as G12, as the idiots in B2 crashed into our vehicle. 

 

So off to a new start, today we left Adana and headed towards GAZIANTEP. Sadly after the collision and endless cold nights, I was starting to feel very rough. So much so that once we arrived at our evening dinner stop, I was unable to eat, even though the food looked lovely.

 

I then tried to find an English speaking Turk who could direct me to a local Doctor or Pharmacy, I was feleing very rough. After much waiting, eventually some very nice Turkish brothers who offered to take me to a local Clinic. This is when I first met brother, Faruq Aktas from IHH. (Sadly Faurq Aktas was on an aid mission in Afghanistan and died in an airplane crash on 17th May 2010 http://www.ihh.org.tr//es/main/news/0/our-friends-martyred-in-afghanistan/689)

 

They drove me to the Clinic and I was examined by the Doctor, I actually felt a bit embarrassed as I was looking rough and didn't smell so great, plus was covered in sweat. He diagnosied me with a very serious chest infection, and a tonsilitis throat infection and also a mild cold as well, and then came the injections and drip with Penicilin. They recommended that I stay the night, and refused to take any money.

 

It was definatley the nicest Doctors Surgey / Clinic I had ever been to, they were so nice and professional. They brought me biscuits and Chai, and the room was lovely and en-suite, totally perfect. I had a great nights rest although I kept waking up to cough green phlegm (flem), felt like cr*p but it was good to have a room and bed. But no pain, no gain.

 

GOOD NIGHT was at the Clinic, on a drip. It was nice to finally have a proper bed, although the circumstances could have been a lot better, as my good buddy Azir commented on Facebook, "Raz you will do anything to get a bed" ....it cracked me up ..but even I wouldn't go through that pain again, plus the injections and drip. But the kindness of the IHH staff, and the Doctor, and the Nurse was amazing, even the Orderly who brought me biscuits and Chai. I had money ready, but they all refused, because I was a Musaffir on my way to Gaza, for a good cause, Alhumdolillah.

 

TOP TIP - Learn some local phrases, especially in case of emergency, and mingle. Plus have faith, depsite the pain, I still prayed and made sure to be still pray, even in the Clinic. Everything works out in the end, Inshallah.