As a documentary photographer, I must always search for and investigate inspirational stories that move me and reflect the world around me.
Qusai Al Yousef is an electrical power engineer and an athlete who holds several international certificates in training and nutrition. In 2012, he was shot by a stray bullet just below his heart and lost a large amount of blood. Due to poor sterilization conditions during a blood transfusion, he later developed complications in his liver, which was diagnosed in 2014 as third-stage liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).
As a result, he underwent several treatment protocols that caused severe side effects—hair loss, body pain after every chemotherapy dose, fever, loss of appetite, and general weakness. After two years of suffer-ing, he temporarily overcame the disease, but it later returned with greater spread to his liver, lungs, and lymph nodes near the aorta.
Qusai is one of my close friends. I accompanied him through most of his chemotherapy sessions. From him, I learned what strength and patience truly mean, despite his heart problems and the pain that often leaves him unable to breathe. Many times, he was revived after fainting, and once he regained conscious-ness, we continued our conversations about the best exercises to improve my training.
He told me that this would be the last treatment protocol he could endure because his veins had become fibrotic, making it almost impossible to take more chemotherapy doses. For that reason, he underwent surgery to insert a device in his chest called a Port-A-Cath—connected directly to his heart—to complete the treatment.
This gentle man in his thirties is truly an inspiring person. His determination and persistence make you feel that he can defeat his illness with nothing but his smile. During every chemotherapy dose, he raised two fingers in victory, telling me that despite all his pain, he would overcome his disease.
After returning home from the hospital, he would wake up the next day, shake off the side effects, and go to the gym to train his body—seeking the perfect athletic form. It’s almost impossible to believe that this cheerful, smiling man, radiating optimism to everyone around him, is living with cancer. In fact, when he speaks about his illness, one might think he’s talking about a simple cold or flu.
Despite all the bitterness and chaos within him, he presents himself to the world with elegance and strength. His positive spirit inspired many cancer patients to reach out and share their own stories with him, and he uses every possible means to help those fighting the same battle.
One of his greatest dreams is to open a psychological and physical rehabilitation center in Syria for cancer patients—during and after treatment—so he can spread his message of hope to as many people as possi-ble.
He always says, “Great hopes create great people.”
Today, after four relapses and seven metastases throughout his body, Qusai is finally enjoying a period of temporary recovery in 2021—after what I consider the longest humanitarian documentation journey of my career, capturing both his pain and his triumph.
Qusai has since become a public figure who has inspired people across the Arab world and beyond. Through his journey, he shared hope by telling his story in heartfelt ways that touched minds, hearts, and souls.
Perhaps the Lord took his health, but He granted him an eternal gift—the power to awaken the spirits of the sick and the broken in this world.
In the end, we cannot help but reflect on that hidden force—one that cannot be seen or measured. It is the silent energy that lives within us, igniting the spark of resistance when everything else fades, giving us the strength to stand against pain, illness, and the unknown.
Qusai was not just a cancer patient; he was a mirror reflecting the power of the human spirit to overcome what is greater than the body.
I began documenting his story in 2018. Since then, thousands of photos and videos have captured mo-ments of weakness and victory, sorrow and joy—shared across social media and news platforms around the world. Yet, despite the vastness of this visual archive, this series of just ten images cannot fully tell the story in all its daily details.
But it reveals one essential truth: the greatest power we possess as human beings is not in our muscles, our technology, or our tools—but in our awareness of the strength within us, and our ability to harness it.
If we recognize this power and truly believe in it, we can face anything—even the impossible.

In surgery

He has had a surgery to insert a devise in his chest called Port-A-Cath for the first time

Reflecting on his journey

He takes his treatment dose in the open air surrounded by silence and light br In this moment he looks inward reflecting on his journey his pain and the fragile beauty of life The wind touches his face softly as if reminding him that every breath no matter how heavy is still a sign of strength and survival

The hope

After returning home he wakes up in the next day getting over the side effects of the dose and goes to the gym to practice his daily sports to reach the best sportive body

Never give up

He told me that this is the last treatment protocol he can stand because the veins in most of his body are getting fibrous and it has become difficult to take chemotherapy doses

Awareness about Cancer

One of his greatest wishes and dreams is to open psychological and physical rehabilitation center for cancer patients to reach his message to the biggest number of beneficiaries

Second surgery

Port-A-Cath for the first time The thirties gentle young man is a really inspiring person he has determination and insistence which make you feel that he can defeat his illness

In the hospital

You can not predict that the owner of this body who has cancer is cheerful and smiley This person despite all the bitterness and mess inside him appears to the world in an elegant and healthy way

during the sleep

In the hospital during the treatment session that sometimes lasts 17 to 20 hours he tries to sleep through the pain

A mother’s supplications in sorrow

While he lies in the hospital bed his mother prays for him her hand gently resting on his forehead br

The Power

Chemical dose and sterilization equipment to start With the smile of a warrior

Inspiration and proceeding in doses

Lend a helping hand and talk about his experiences in his journey with illness the thing that encourged some patients to talk to him about their experiences and he invests all the possible ways to help those people who suffer from cancer

Victory smile

Today after four relapses and seven metastases in his body finally Qusai is enjoying a temporary recovery Qusai became a public figure he gave hope through sharing his personal experience in heartwarming methods touching mind heart and soul