I have been a part of the HHUGS family since my husband was
detained in September 2006. Initially after the arrest, the other affected families and I only had each
other to talk to; everyone
else around us or who were friends with our husband weren’t sure how to
react and felt the best thing to do was stay away as it wasn’t known
what was happening and the dangers involved. I was eight months
pregnant at the time and it was all quite surreal.

It
wasn’t long however before the HHUGS team contacted us, and immediately assisted us with prison lifts, every week alhamdulilah. As I wasn’t driving, and with one child and a newborn baby, it brought such ease to have this.

I would receive calls often and three years later the
calls have never died out, because of the calls which were just
courtesy.  I was always given great advice that helped me, whatever circumstance
I was in.  Although it’s not easy to ask for help, the HHUGS team never
made me feel I was a burden on them.   If they couldn’t help, they
would point me in a direction of someone who could, alhamdulillah.

The volunteers, out of their own time, would organise lunch/dinner
specifically for the HHUGS families in the area, which would be
encouraging as you meet other families in the same predicament and you
find out how you could benefit others.

HHugs is a financial support to families masha’Allah, but the emotional
support is what is appreciated the most, especially when those who are
helping you have never been in that situation; you end up getting
jealous of the rewards they must be receiving and wish you could be in
the same position to help others.  It really brings the community
together and I have a great appreciation of the hard work the team put
in, out of their own time, who have families larger than myself, jobs,
and other responsibilties but yet never have I made a call and didn’t
get through and the call wasnt returned, it always was.
May Allah grant the HHUGS team success in this life and the hereafter and expand it to benefit many others, ameen.

Wife of TA detainee