Palestinian child Adam’s story of hope captured in Chicago Tribune

WEB DESK: A powerful photo in the Chicago Tribune this week captures more than the smiling face of a young boy, it tells a story of profound loss and extraordinary resilience. Adam, a Palestinian child, now finds safety in Chicago, his joyful spirit a testament to the human capacity for hope after unspeakable tragedy.

His grandmother, Umm Ahmed, recounts the horrific morning an airstrike hit their tent camp in Gaza. Searching the rubble, she found the bodies of her son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. Between his parents, she discovered Adam, still wrapped in the bedsheet they had shared. Presumed dead, he was rushed to a hospital; he survived, but lost a leg and his entire immediate family.

“God wanted him to live,” his grandmother said.

Now, Adam’s story is one of healing. Brought to Chicago by the organisation Heal Palestine, he is embraced by a host family and community. Those who meet him describe a boy “so loving and full of energy,” his happiness defying the darkness of his past.

“My life’s work is to serve these children,” writes an advocate. The photo of Adam’s smile is a beacon—a reminder of innocence stolen, but also of the enduring power of care and community to help a child rediscover joy.