Living with shrapnel inside the head

Vehbi Fazliu, from Nekoc, Drenas, is the man that has been living in the last 12 years with metal pieces inside his head. He has frequently lost consciousness, has been paralyzed and the angst has always been present.

In April 1999, when Vehbi was only 21 years old, together with the other KLA soldiers, he was protecting the Kosovo civilians that had found a temporary shelter at the place called “Berisha Mountains”, at the Drenas Commune. On April 1918 he was wounded and stayed paralyzed for two months.

The 33 year old says today that after feeling good, he returned to war, but the metal pieces inside the head brought him frequent problems.

“I lose my conscience while I am eating, or going down the street, in the bus… and it goes on for a long time. The last time I was unconscious for four hours, until I woke up in hospital”, Fazliu says for Top Channel.

He has received help from his relatives and friends, but also from people that he had never seen before. The institutional help has not been sufficient, and he says that he is unable to follow the doctors’ advice.

“They say that I cannot be cured here, only abroad. Everyone knows how much the invalid pension is. I cannot afford this operation. I have sold some of my yard for some money, but still”, says Fazliu.

His five member family is celebrating the New Year. Usually, in time of celebrations, people have different wishes. But Vehbi, same as in the last 12 years, hopes that the New Year will find him without the metal pieces inside his head.

Top Channel