Help Me Reunite With My Cats!

Hasan Al-Akraa is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi, my name is Hasan and I'm from Aleppo, Syria. Back in Syria, my family and I had a beautiful farm with many animals. Growing up in that environment, it was natural for me to find comfort and companionship in them. When the war began, my family and I were forced to flee and leave behind our farm. We came to Malaysia in 2012 to seek a safer home, where we stayed for the next 12 years (you can watch my full story here).

In 2018, my friend Amal told me that her cat gave birth and that she was looking for people to adopt the kittens. I was hesitant at first, but then thought, why not? I have always loved cats, and have not had the chance to care for any animals of my own since we were forced to leave home. So without thinking any further, I said yes and adopted my first cat. He was a few weeks old at the time, and I named him Simba.

Simba got me through some of the darkest days of my life. Every time I was upset or sad, I would go home to sweet cuddles and play time with Simba who filled me with love and positivity.

(Simba ate my homework and the teacher did not believe it)

(My mom always jokes around and calls him a goat because he loves eating grass!)

Some years later, I came across a lost kitten in a car park who was very skinny and hungry. Of course, I had to bring her back home, feed her and give her a warm bath. Simba did not like her at first, but she immediately stole my heart when she kept wanting to play with him despite all the hissing. I decided to adopt her, and I named her Zaitona (which means Olive in Arabic). In a matter of days, Simba and Zaitona became best friends.

Sadly, Zaitona was diagnosed with an awful kidney disease and died a year later. Simba and I were heartbroken over her loss, and I was not ready to let go. Days went by and it was just me and Simba living alone, and I would feel guilty leaving him alone when I went to work.

In 2023, I received a text from the vet saying somebody had left a kitten in a box at their door and was asking if I was keen to adopt it. It took me a few hours to think about it; the loss of Zaitona still hurt and despite this grief, I thought Simba could use a furry friend, especially while I was away at work. So I said yes and brought her home. I named her Namora. She is orange too and Simba immediately took to her. She loves to play, sometimes too much, but that only made their bond stronger. In some ways, Namora helped me heal over the loss of Zaitona.

(She was the size of my hand, and too adorable to say no to!)

(She too loves going through my books but by this time I already graduated, so no more homework to eat!)

Simba is now 6 years old and Namora is 1. They love each other like siblings destined to bond for life, and I'm thankful God sent them my way to care for and to fill the gap in my life - that being loneliness.

They have both been my companions, my two constants, and I can't imagine my life without them. They have been living with me until the day I received the news that my family and I have been accepted for resettlement to the United States. With only two weeks to prepare for departure, I had no choice but to temporarily leave them behind at a cat shelter which was founded by my friends. We landed in Portland, Oregon on 12th June and there has not been a single night that passed without me crying for them and thinking about them back in Malaysia. I cannot tell you in enough words how much they mean to me.

(Safe and sound but always thinking about them...)

I'm hoping to reunite with my furry children and that can only be possible with all of your support. It is estimated to cost roughly RM8,000 per cat (about 1.6k USD) and I do not have the financial means to cover this. My family and I are still settling in and are yet to find jobs, and so I turn to all of your kindness and generosity.

I know this may not seem something of an urgency, and I completely understand. But I can't let myself live if I at least don't give this a try, and hope all of you will make it happen.