$5-For-Ahmed

I was in Sudan this past August training my colleague Khalil, on our company's financial systems. One day, I noticed that Khalil was struggling to stay awake. When I pressed him later on why he was falling asleep, he told me that he had been up all night, walking an hour to a bus stop, riding a bus for an hour, and then standing in a queue to see a doctor in a children’s hospital. This routine had been going on for the past 2 nights.

This was how I first learned about Khalil's son, Ahmed. Over the next 6 months I learned just how serious Ahmed’s medical needs are.

Ahmed’s birth was followed by a series of epileptic seizures, and he was immediately hospitalized for 10 days. When he was 23 months old his developmental delays became obvious to his parents. At age 5, Ahmed is still unable to speak, or to walk.

Khalil and his wife, Rasha, have been advised to take Ahmed, who is now 5 years old, outside of Sudan for treatment that is not available in their own country.

Khalil’s wife, Rasha, hopes to take Ahmed to Jordan where they will stay for 2 months while Ahmed gets treatment. The treatment plan, estimated at $17,000, includes surgery, physical, speech, and occupational therapy, and a wheelchair.

The treatment is not covered by Khalil’s health insurance. (His health insurance also does not cover Ahmed’s treatment in Sudan because it is considered “chronic.”)

I talk to Khalil frequently (via Skype – I work in Boston) and he never complains about his situation. Instead he is focused on getting Ahmed the help he needs.

This is where I come in. I am so inspired by Khalil’s peaceful and joyful demeanor in the face of very real challenges. Unsolicited by Khalil, but with his blessing, others and myself have decided to raise as much money as we can to help support Ahmed’s treatment. We want Ahmed to have the same opportunities for medical care that we would want our own children to have.

This is where you come in. We have set a goal of raising $20,000 by the end of August. All of the money will go to Ahmed’s health care expenses (with the exception of small fees that are charged by this web-site, and of fees incurred while transferring the money.)

We are asking you to donate $5 to this website (Feel free to donate more if you are able.) 

We are also asking you to:

1. Send a personal email with this link:

http://www.gofundme.com/5-for-Ahmed

to 5 people, asking them to contribute, and, to share the link with others,

2. Share and Like this page on Facebook,

3. Tweet this page.

We want this to reach as many people as possible.

Together we can make a difference in Ahmed’s life!

Thank you on behalf of Ahmed, and his family.