Finding Ramsen Sheeno in the life of Sargon Yousif

image002.jpgSargon Yousif has been laid-up on his bedroom floor since January 18, 1990 where he was born to an Assyrian family in Basra, a province in Iraq, notorious for its “Southern Hospitality.”

He came into the world with Cerebral Palsy, a condition that has completely disengaged him from the ability to talk and walk, while lacking muscular strength.

“Lying on the floor,” notes Albert Davidoo, Chairman of the Assyrian Medical Society during a recent visit to the Yousif residence in Granada Hills, California, “I noticed that Sargon’s body curves in a 90-degree angle.”

image003.jpg“Sitting next to him while stroking his hair, I could not help but drench in a moment of sorrow as I wept for this young man whose torso had never been lifted above ground-level. Suddenly he began making unfamiliar noises, while his body shook, as he began throwing his arms in different directions. When I asked his mother, she explained to me that her son was happy that there were two men in the room.”

“It was then that I made the connection. Before taking refuge in the United States, Sargon’s father was killed by insurgents in Iraq, in a devastating auto shooting, that left Sargon and his three sisters, Katherine, 17, Sweden, 14, and Moreen, 10, fatherless, and their mother, Marlin, a widow.

Without a doubt, Sargon and his family need a lot of support. For one, through the help of a few friends and neuron surgeons, the Assyrian Medical Society has been able to provide for a wheelchair from the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), Wheels for Humanity, among other equipment, necessary for his living condition.

Furthermore, the family needs immediate help transporting Sargon to Shriners Children Hospital – Los Angeles, where he will undergo physical therapy treatments and meet with social workers.

The family as a whole needs work-up with the Department of Human Services, with special education (tutoring) for the girls in the general study areas of mathematics, biology and history, along with necessary financial support.

After assessing Sargon’s medical needs, and the family’s overall living conditions, suddenly I noticed a photo of Assyrian entertainer Ramsen Sheeno enshrined on the door of the small bedroom that Sargon shares with his three sisters.

“I gestured to the mother, asking what this was all about, and in her words she said “my son stares at the picture and loves to listen to Ramsen Sheeno’s songs.” “How do you know?” I asked. She said, “After 19 years of being with him, I can tell you when he is in pain and when he is happy. Ramsen is our family idol.”

Ramsen Sheeno was last spotted at the 76th Annual Assyrian National Convention in Chicago where he helped promote the Assyrian Medical Society by handing out the organization’s T-Shirts at the outdoor picnic. Since then, his humanitarian path must have caught up with him elsewhere. I suppose it is when we least expect it, God places virtues on our hearts. Ramsen Sheeno, you are our hero! May your path continue to inspire a “Road to Love.”

Spotted photo of Ramsen Sheeno in the Yousif family memoirs is from album cover “Door Alee,” released in 2006, titled after his groundbreaking song “Door Alee” written by Canadian Assyrian lyricist Dawod Barkho.

“Road to Love,” album title, also by Ramsen Sheeno was released in 2004.

Update ~ During the first week of November, Ramsen Sheeno and Albert Davidoo, Chairman of the Assyrian Medical Society will be visiting with the Yousif family.

For further information about the Assyrian Medical Society, visit www.assyrianmedical.org.

Story told by Albert Davidoo, Chairman, Assyrian Medical Society.
Written and forwarded by Helen Talia, Director, Chicago, www.helentalia.com.