Finally, 106 days after being rushed to the hospital, the couple was finally cleared to leave. Ibrahim Karapirli returned from physical therapy on crutches to protect his aching leg while his wife Pinar struggled to care for their twin toddlers with her one remaining arm. They still mourned their two sons who were killed in a powerful earthquake in February. The couple bid the nurses goodbye and left with hope for a safe new home. Each day had been a painful quest to overcome their trauma and cobble together a new life after the powerful earthquake that killed their children.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed more than 53,000 people in Turkey and injured many others. This event ambushed people in their sleep, and many buildings have yet to recover. Despite recovery efforts, the Karapirlis, residents of Gaziantep, have struggled to address their most pressing needs.
After the collapse of their apartment building, ten of the twenty-one residents died. Ibrahim Karapirli was rescued after 38 hours of being buried and was eager to smoke a cigarette and say goodbye to his son Erdem. Pinar was rescued soon after because the rescuers feared for her life if they didn’t free her immediately. Regrettably, the couple could not attend their children’s funeral due to their grave condition. In a miraculous turn of events, only four of the family’s six members survived and had to piece their lives back together.
The Karapirli’s life before the earthquake was beautiful and filled with joy. They were married in under two months, had two sons, Erdem and Enes, and even ran a bakery called A Bouquet of Cake. But after the tragic events of the earthquake, life has looked much bleaker for them as they fight to rebuild their lives.
In addition to suffering from significant physical injuries, the family is working to recover from the emotional trauma of the earthquake. Ibrahim consoled Pinar after her arm had to be amputated, promising to help and take care of her. With unwavering support and repeated rehabilitation, the couple began to rebuild their lives after the devastating earthquake.