Donate and Bring Joy to Zakki's Life ❤️

Zakki was born with the heart of a warrior and designed to survive. He has undergone 29 surgeries, 17 on his heart for his critical and complex congenital heart AND lung defects, and survived against all odds. He also had a huge MCA infarct stroke as a baby, and lives with hemiplegia paralysis on one side of his body, which affects his ability to be safely independent.

Zakki requires medically trained care 24/7 - due to the nature of his life threatening medical emergencies and complications - this has always been me, his mom, for 275,000+ blessed hours.

He continues to survive his multiple medically fragile conditions, that have affected his nearly every organ system, because he has had excellent, compassionate, super supportive, loving kind pediatric care, and my unwavering dedication to care for him 24/7 as his mom (without any outside help human or financial).

I am grateful for Zakki's patience and perseverance (and my own) as we continue to navigate a complex and oftentimes scary medical journey with many curve balls.

He has bravely and steadfastly endured 9+ of his 29 surgeries - (his last congenital heart intervention Jan 2025), repeated severe illnesses that have required months and months of oxygen 24/7 and other frequent medical emergencies (massive pulmonary hemorrhages due to his congenital heart aorta pulmonary collaterals, status seizures that need emergency medications and oxygen, life threatening adrenal crises, serious falls that have required emergency care, severe asthma, exhaustion that comes with being medically fragile and disabled, etc) without the benefit of reliable transportation or a vehicle.

We had a beautiful disability accessible Chevy Express van until 2012. They say Chevy is the Heartbeat of America but unfortunately that was not our experience. With only 70k miles and needing $500 repairs month after month after month, we finally could no longer afford to keep it running safely, when it needed new brakes for the second time, in a short amount of time. We really loved having a disability accessible vehicle, that also carried all his medical equipment and oxygen. We even had a generator built in it to run his medical equipment. Life got even harder without a vehicle.

Before our Chevy Express van, we had other vehicles, one we even donated to Purple Hearts to help veterans, and another one - a Lexus - we basically gave away for only 1 thousand dollars to a man that needed a vehicle for work. We were blessed with purchasing a new Chevy Express van and wanted to give back. Now we are the ones that need help securing a vehicle.

We have been riding buses for 13 years even while he is recovering from surgeries, surviving life threatening illnesses and complications, all through the Covid pandemic, and even on oxygen 24/7 (including this year 10 weeks of oxygen due to RSV Jan-March 2025).

But, the Septa bus routes we regularly use are being cut very soon. Uber and Lyft are extremely expensive. To go two miles to CHOP one day, it cost $40 due to a price surge! Renting a Zipcar, which is a special thing to do and we are grateful for, costs at least $130 + per day! Not sustainable options for any income level!

Although I was told Zakki would never walk or talk (due to his huge stroke as a baby from the critical congenital heart defects) he walks - even while dragging along his oxygen concentrator with only the use of one arm. His one leg is also affected from the stroke. He walks even when he is so exhausted from the nature of his medically fragile conditions and his disabilities -because buses are unreliable and Lyft and Uber are way too expensive. When exhausted he sometimes trips outside on uneven surfaces and gets hurt, this frustrates him greatly. I try to point out every sidewalk crack, but sometimes he still trips and falls, as people with hemiplegia do.

Being a medical miracle and a survivor against all odds is hard work. As we face treating a current medical complication with his lungs (and stare down a mortality that reaches 50% in certain populations) we really need your help. This particular medical complication may require IV medication 24/7 for many many months. Walking around the city and/or riding a bus with an IV pole is not appropriate. We are really hoping for other treatment options, of course. We are in a holding pattern for next steps, but preparing for the worst and expecting the best - Zakki's life as we've always known it.

Zakki said to me recently "All I have ever done my whole life is survive, I just want to live like a normal person. I'm so tired or having life be so hard." This is the first time he's voiced this even with ALL he's been through, including things too sad to mention here. So, we sat down and made a bucket list. Some things so simple, but he has not had the opportunity to experience in 20+ years.

Zakki has asked me repeatedly why family doesn't care. I don't have an answer for him, but it is sad because an extended support system is so important and he knows this, he feels this in his heart and soul.

He has heard Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers and Psychologists all say "Ask your family for help."

We have asked family - although they have all been extremely financially blessed, they are unwilling to help (they don't respect full time 24/7 caregivers...they don't respect that Zakki requires 24/7 medically trained care, and that it's always been me, his mom, 24/7...they don't respect caring for God's angels here on earth).

One of Zakki's Doctors finally told us that there was no shame in starting a GoFundMe and ask friends and strangers for the help we need.

Although Zakki's story has helped raise upwards of 1 million dollars for a youth development golf organization in the past, which benefited many others, we have never had a fundraiser for him or for his critical medical needs.

We both serve as consultants for medical devices, equipment and medications, but this only helps cover his most basic medical expenses. Consultant opportunities are not always available, and greatly depend upon Zakki's health. We also volunteer, as we are able, on both Youth and Parent Advisory Medical Councils.

We are thankful for the special souls that have walked alongside us and cheered us on over the years. Each kind word or act of kindness will never be forgotten.

Your donated funds to this GoFundMe will be utilized to secure a reliable vehicle, offset ongoing medical expenses, and work on fulfilling some of Zakki's bucket list. Having something to look forward to has always helped Zakki cope. The time to work on his bucket list is now, as he faces another medical marathon, this one often resistant to treatment.

His bucket list includes having a vehicle to also be able to have day trip experiences that would add so much joy to his life.

Please Donate and Share this campaign. You will be making the life of one of God's miracles so much easier. We deeply appreciate each of you and your loving kindness.

❤️❤️❤️