Shaig Rasuli was assured by his smugglers, who extracted $20,000 from his family of four, that his medical condition and overall quality of life would turn the corner once he'd reached the dreamland of Europe. In Afghanistan, after all, there is one doctor for every 6,000 people. Rasuli, 32, has had hydrocephaly since birth, and knew that his recurrent episodes of epilepsy, vomiting, and passing out would only get worse in the future. The minimum he needed to lead a decent life was to have a shunt system inserted in his skull, allowing excess fluid to drain. Otherwise, he could expect permanent brain damage, loss of physical or mental ability, perhaps death. But, have that kind of operation where, and in what hospital in Kunduz, Rasuli's homeland? He was lucky enough to stock up on some furosemide, acetazolamide, and isosorbide, handed out by the Médecins Sans Frontières team in Kunduz, in September of 2015. Only a few days later, the deadly hospital airstrike took place, killing 42 patients and doctors.Read more on Tonic
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