If you've ever met Saahel, you've witnessed the radiance of her personality — always gushing with love and joy. While her tenderness and grace persistently shine through, Saahel's resilience is the truest mark of her character. At 24-years-old, she has been diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis (MS), a degenerative disease that attacks the nervous system, causing pain, fatigue, muscle weakness, and paralysis. This news has devastated Saahel and those who know and love her.

Saahel's story is one of incredible courage and strength in the face of adversity. She was born in San Jose — the miracle baby of a mother who also had a severe case of MS and was warned against having a child. Despite the risks, the pregnancy went smoothly, and Saahel was born healthy. She spent her childhood caring for her mother, whose MS had paralyzed her from the neck down. Saahel's mother moved to the US seeking better care for her rare case, but unfortunately, she lost her life when Saahel was only 11. With her father out of the picture, Saahel made use of her tenacity and put herself through college.

Despite the challenges she has faced, Saahel's fortitude and tenacity have landed her in Brooklyn, NY, where she has carved out a new chapter in her life, thriving in a new city with her best friends and two cats. She's settled into her new life, indulging in all the art, music and culture the city has to offer, and working hard to become everyone's favorite teacher’s assistant at the preschool where she works. Saahel's work is a testament to her kind and selfless nature — she has always been passionate about helping children learn and grow in ways she wasn't afforded herself. Despite her recent MS diagnosis, she continues to show up every day with a smile on her face, ready to teach and inspire. Her kindness and patience have earned her the love and respect of both the children and their parents, who consider her an indispensable part of their community.

Recently, Saahel's eyesight went blurry. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with optic neuritis, a common first sign of MS. After undergoing numerous tests and scans, she was alerted that lesions had in fact formed on her brain, confirming the diagnosis for MS. The recent hospital stint alone has left her with $15,000 in medical bills, and the cost of her ongoing care is staggering. The symptoms of this debilitating disease have already begun to take a toll on her wellbeing, causing her pain, fatigue, and muscle weakness. She is doing everything she can to manage her condition while working hard to support herself and pay her rent. Her medication alone will cost upwards of $75,000 a year, and frequent MRI scans are needed, costing about $2,000 each. All of this is quickly adding up. To stay on top of this chronic disease, she will also need to visit neurologists and MS specialists frequently, which means she will have to miss work, putting further strain on her finances.

We are reaching out to the community to help Saahel in her fight against MS. Your donation will help her pay her medical bills and cover the cost of her ongoing care. Saahel is a sweet, thoughtful, and caring young woman with so much to offer the world. It is heartbreaking to see someone who has already been through so much pain now face a life of uncertainty and suffering. But with your help, we can ease her financial burden and allow her to focus on her health and well-being.

Please consider making a donation to help Saahel continue to work and provide for herself while battling this debilitating disease. Thank you for your generosity and for supporting Saahel during this difficult time.

WC: Arash Malekzadeh