“Imagine yourself operating on a patient when you are being attacked by barrel bombs and missiles. Your hands are shaking, the hospital is shaking, soil could go in the patient’s wounds while you are operating and then you have to wait a while until the strike stops and carry on.” These days, Dr Ayman Alshiekh, 38, is a surgeon in an immaculate, state-of-the-art hospital in Manchester city centre.
But only a few years ago, the doctor was facing the unthinkable – trying to save lives in a bloody field hospital in Syria, being hunted by a brutal regime. READ MORE: 'My little girl doesn't want presents this Christmas' READ MORE: 'Shannon's organs gave new life to others - but the people meant to save her life failed' Ayman spent his childhood in his beloved home country of Syria, one of the world’s most ancient centres of culture.
Attending primary school, he dreamed of becoming a doctor, understanding from the beginning that he was called to come to the aid of those in need.
From his primary school days, he excelled in sciences, working hard to get the grades to pursue an education in medicine. Ayman graduated from the University of Aleppo in 2010 and started his training in vascular surgery in Damascus.