BAGHDAD , Iraq ( CNN ) -- Shada 's back aches more and more each day as she literally bears her family 's burden . Clothed in a black robe , she strains under her husband 's weight . Shada now carries her husband around the house . His legs were blown off in a bombing . Murtada , a 29-year-old taxi driver , was once a proud husband and father . But one morning last October , he kissed his family good-bye and set off to work . Within hours , their world was shattered . A bomb blew off both his legs above the knee . `` I lost consciousness for a bit . I knew I was wounded , '' he says . `` I was under the car . I saw my legs were severed , just flesh and skin . I was holding my legs , bleeding . '' Watch Shada strain to carry her husband » . Helpless , the daily burden is now on Shada . She carries Murtada when he needs to be moved . She ca n't even leave the house because of the constant care she provides her husband . `` I want to work , but I ca n't really because then who will stay with my husband ? '' she says . `` Who will take him to the bathroom ? My first concern every morning is my husband . '' See the struggles of Iraqi women » . The attack did to Murtada what roadside bombs , rocket fire , and sniper shootings have done to thousands of Iraqis . Since the war began , the estimates of wounded Iraqis have ranged from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of people . Go inside Iraq with CNN 's Arwa Damon » . According to Iraq 's Health Ministry , 25 percent of the wounded have lost at least one limb . Murtada is one of these grim stats , and his life is now a nightmare . He has stumps where his legs used to be and has n't been able to get prosthetics . He moves around by lifting himself with his arms , riding in a wheelchair or being carried by his wife . Life has forced Shada to tap into a physical and emotional strength she did not know she possessed . Their 3-year-old son helps care for his father . One time , Murtada admits his thoughts turned dark . `` I was thinking , 'Is this really going to be my life ? ' And then I was thinking about my son and how I ca n't provide for him , and then I began thinking about poisoning myself . '' This small family lives in a small rented house in a Shiite neighborhood in western Baghdad . Shada has endured many tough times amid war and conflict . Her brother was shot dead and her father died because of poor health care . Neighbors have helped the family financially , and Shada tries to make ends meet by selling gasoline on the street . But the circumstances have forced the man she relied on to rely on her . `` I look at him like a baby , with the needs of a baby , '' she says . `` Nobody but me can help him . I can not go to the markets because of him . I am asking people for help because I can not leave him alone in the house . '' E-mail to a friend .
Iraqi woman dedicated herself to caring for injured children . Her husband lost both legs in bombing , has been unable to get prosthetics . ` ` I thought my legs were severed , just flesh and skin , '' he says . Then : ` ` I am asking people for help because I can not leave him alone in the house ''