Adyba found healing at Community of Hope after fleeing Afghanistan in August 2021.
Escaping her home country was no easy journey. Traveling alone, she was stuck in Kabul airport for six days without food and water. For another six challenging days, she waited in Qatar before she finally arrived in the United States.
Adyba recalls, “[In Afghanistan], it took me many years and many struggles to build my life, but it took me one day to lose everything and to start from zero again.”
After a few months of being shuffled around, Adyba landed in Washington, DC last October.
The uncertainty of not knowing what would happen to her was short-lived. Like all refugees entering the District, Adyba was connected to Community of Hope’s Refugee Health program for medical screening, immunizations, and care coordination.
As Adyba settled into her new city, she found a “very kind and very understanding” doctor which means a lot to someone who left behind home, family, and familiarity. She connected to dental care and most importantly, a listening ear to support her emotional wellness.
After the trauma of displacement, Adyba was promptly connected with a Community of Hope therapist to learn how to navigate immense feelings of loss and rebirth simultaneously.
“I would say that at Community of Hope—they consider their patients as their family,” says Adyba.
Although settling in took time, Adyba credits her friends and Community of Hope as her support network as she rebuilds her life in the United States.
She thinks back on her time with her therapist and is astounded by her own growth. Adyba says, “[At] my first visit, I was a hopeless person… I was crying when I was telling her my story and everything, but I had another session with her this week. I cannot believe I see so much change in myself.”
Adyba is resilient. This resiliency is something Community of Hope sees all the time. Even when our patients and clients experience extreme circumstances—loss of home, experiences with trauma, life circumstances that aren’t easy to navigate—their hope prevails. We are thankful to be a part of their stories.