Emergency Fund for MT, A Cancer Doctor & Survivor

A colleague and a fellow trainee, a distinguished researcher, a husband, a father of 3 including an infant, who dedicated his career and the last ten years in studying and researching cancer and cutting-edge treatments. He fell unexpectedly in his thirties as a victim of advanced cancer.

He launched a relentless fight for a cure, a fight for his life, a fight to continue his training and ambitions, and a fight to maintain his family and children's sense of normalcy.

This fund will help him have an edge and avoid financial distractions in this fight.


From Mohammad:

“Hello all, I want to share my story with you. I am an oncologist, cancer doctor, (to be more accurate, I will be an oncologist in one month! as I am an oncology trainee). Six months before my graduation, which is planned in 06/2020, I was getting ready to sign my new job contract and concluding a 16-years journey of medical training. I was excited about the new life being an attending physician as I get to treat my patients independently, looking forward to fulfilling the promises I made to my family, which have been postponed until I finish my training. I had already thought of my practice, patients,  my family dreams come true, before the same disease I fight every day came to punch me in the face. I realized that God had another plan for me. I was diagnosed with gut cancer with peritoneal metastasis (abdominal lining involvement) in 01/2020! It is staged as “stage IV”  and classified as “not curable.” I can only say, thank you, God, and ready for the fight!



I am 34-year-old, married, and have three beautiful kids, 5-year-old, 2.5-years, and 2- months old! My youngest daughter was a gift from God; she came in the middle of the turmoil to give us hope! And this is what we named her “Amal,” which means hope!



It was not until the new year eve when we received the news that I have adenocarcinoma with signet ring features invading my bowels. Why did it happen to me at this young age? God only knows! I have zero risk factors and no family history of cancers.



Our life has changed 180 degrees. I have been on chemotherapy for the past 4 months with a good response. However, I just had a road bump with another small bowel obstruction. I am planned now for surgery with chemotherapy in my abdomen this week; it has a 5% chance of possible “cure.” It is a surgery that will change my whole life as they will take my stomach and parts of my bowels out. How my body will tolerate gastrectomy and more chemotherapy when two-thirds of my bowels are already out is a challenge, and also God only knows what will happen. Nevertheless, I will fight for my future, for my wife, young kids, and most importantly, for my patients.”



Unfortunately, being a trainee, and the sole working person in the family come with substantial financial struggles. Trainee jobs have no long-term or short-term disability benefits nor retirement benefits. I will have no immediate job by 07/01/2020, as I am focusing on my treatments.



I am determined to practice oncology, which has been my dream for more than a decade. I am not sure if this will ever happen given my advanced disease, but I will do my best to achieve my dream. I go with the advice that I always tell my patients every day: deal with the days as they come, do not think too far in the future, fight for life every day, enjoy every moment you get, do your best with treatment, and everything else will be in God’s hands. Thank you all for reading my story, your contributions to support my family will help me fight this disease, pay for medical bills, and support my young family for the next year.


Thank you! Telfah’s family ( Batool, Mohammad, Salma, Ali, and Amal)”