Hi!

Odile Connolly here, primary school teacher & mother living in Stillorgan, Co. Dublin - hopefully finishing the Dublin Marathon on the 26th October in aid of what I feel is a worthy cause.

Below are the words of my friend Jill McGovern. Jill has to come to know Buchra and her little boy Mohammed (Hamoudi) who started in Senior Infants at her son’s school just this year. I was touched by their story and have decided to raise funds to put towards any physical therapy and play therapies for little Hamoudi who has been through so much. Please read his story.

Jill: “A little boy, Mohammed (Hamoudi) started in senior infants in HollyPark in September of this year. He and his mum, Buchra, were evacuated to Ireland as medical refugees from Gaza, Palestine last May.

Hamoudi lost one leg and severely injured his other in a bombing of their tent while sheltering in a refugee camp where he and his family were staying. Sadly in the same bombing his Dad was killed.

Hamoudi has suffered more than any child ever should, having to undergo several surgeries without anaesthetic.

One of the saddest parts of their tragic story is that Hamoudi’s big brother (12) and two sisters (14 & 8) are still in Gaza, accompanied only by their 81 year old grandmother who can no longer walk, moving from camp to camp seeking food, safety and shelter.

The ultimate priority for Buchra is reunification with her other 3 children, getting them safely to Ireland. The challenge of reuniting Hamoudi with his three siblings and Buchra with her other children is international, legal and political.

In the meantime, while she and Hamoudi are safe here, they are surviving on limited financial supports. Hamoudi faces significant challenges with regard to his future including rehab, sourcing the best available nerve damage treatment, physio and hopefully appropriate prosthetics. While his medical pathway is not yet clear, it is bound to be expensive and will likely include occupational therapy, physio therapy, trauma therapy as well as medical equipment and numerous appointments.

Hamoudi currently has no dedicated transport to school and a local parent is helping at present, ensuring his daily attendance at a school he loves.

Helping this one mother and her young son who are living locally is a small act of solidarity with the people of Gaza and all they have suffered.” - Jill.

Seeing Hamoudi’s smiling face eating a 99 ice-cream at Teddy’s in Dun Laoghaire (main photo) is a reminder of the incredible resilience of children despite having suffered so much. I would love to raise some money to help Buchra & Hamoudi in a very small way with accessing therapies that could offer Hamoudi the best chance of recovery, as Buchra waits to be reunited with her three other children.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and thank you for your support, Odile.