Help Hend Pursue Her Dream of Becoming a Surgeon

Hello, and thank you for taking a moment to read our story. My name is Intimaa AbuHelou, a dentist, Fulbright scholar from Gaza, Master's gradate and currently a doctoral student in Public Health at Saint Louis University in St Louis, MO, US. Two years ago, I came to the US, hoping to recover from the trauma of surviving five wars in Gaza. But I never imagined I would now be living through the heartbreak of watching my family endure a genocide from afar, feeling powerless to be with them or help them.

Today, I am reaching out for your support on behalf of my sister, Hend AbuHelou, a 20-year-old aspiring surgeon whose dreams have been jeopardized by the relentless war in Gaza. Despite unimaginable challenges, Hend completed high school with an outstanding GPA of 98.1% and began her medical studies at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, where she maintained an impressive GPA of 95.8%. Hend's dedication, passion, and resilience have always been her guiding lights, but her dreams were shattered when her university was destroyed in the recent war.

Hend is not only a talented medical student but also a gifted writer and researcher. She has written for We Are Not Numbers, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Mondoweiss, and Palestine Studies Org, using her words as a form of resistance and a testimony to the resilience of her people. Her writing lays bare the human cost of war while embodying the unyielding spirit of Gaza.

In her story, "I Don’t Want to Die", Hend writes:

"I want to live, love, break the chains, spread my wings, and fly. If I’m killed, I don’t want to die at night. I hate the darkness; it scares me. I don’t want my flesh to be shredded, I want to die with my body whole. I don’t want to be pulled from the rubble in bits and pieces." Link to the story: https://wearenotnumbers.org/i-dont-want-to-die-i-am-too-young-to-die-i-want-to-be-alive/

Grandmother Fatimaa (who was killed during the war), Ahmed, and Hend. Photo: Hend Salama Abo Helow

She has found strength and inspiration in our nieces, whom she lovingly calls her "Powerpuff Girls" In her piece, "My Powerpuff Girls", Hend reflects on their innocence and resilience:

"Sila, just five years old, looked up at the sky through a shattered window and whispered, ‘The drone is winking at me.’ She thought it was a star, blinking in the night. How could I explain the truth to her? That the drone wasn’t winking at us with love, but with death. It wasn’t a friend; it was the enemy, watching us, waiting to strike."

Link to the story: https://wearenotnumbers.org/my-powerpuff-girls/

Hend’s four nieces: Eila, Fofa, Sila, and Siba. Photo: Hend Salama Abo Helow

Amidst unimaginable loss, Hend’s commitment to her dream of becoming a doctor has only deepened. In her story, "Despite our universities and hospitals lying in ruins, my generation will rebuild Gaza", she vows:

"We pledge to restore the stolen dreams of those who haven’t survived and carry their legacy forward. We pledge to inspire the coming generations not to quit education at all costs as a means of liberation." Link to the story: https://mondoweiss.net/2025/01/despite-our-universities-and-hospitals-lying-in-ruins-my-generation-will-rebuild-gaza/

THE DESTROYED FACADE OF AL-AZHAR UNIVERSITY. (PHOTO: AHMAD ATALLAH JABER/ IG: )

DR. MADS GILBERT IN THE FRONT ROW WITH STUDENTS AT THE “YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE” WORKSHOP AT AL-AZHAR UNIVERSITY. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HEND SALAMA ABO HELOW)

Her writings also capture the heartache of survival. In her Gaza Diary entry, "A Red Glow at Sunset", she writes:

"It is heartbreaking to be warm while others shiver. To have food while others starve. To survive while others perish. Even though we face the same horrors collectively, I cannot escape the guilt of surviving when others did not. This is the dichotomy of our lives in Gaza; we cling to life, but we are killed. We mourn our dead, but we carry their legacy. We deserve to live fully, love deeply, and be free entirely. But we are suffering." Link to the story: https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/1656644

Hend’s dream is to continue her medical education in Qatar, where she can study in a stable environment and fulfill her aspiration of becoming a surgeon. To make this possible, we are raising $100,000, which will cover the tuition fees and living expenses for a five-year MBBS program. Here is the estimated breakdown of expenses:

Every donation, no matter the size, brings Hend closer to resuming her education and working toward a future where she can save lives and inspire hope. Supporting Hend is not just about funding her education; it’s about investing in hope, resilience, and a brighter future for Gaza and the world. As Hend says:

"Our determination to rebuild every brick in every hospital and university hand in hand is extraordinary. Gaza is not just a place—it is a spirit of resilience, a phoenix rising from the ashes. This is not just my story. It is the story of every student in Gaza who dares to dream, who clings to hope even when the world seems determined to extinguish it. We are not just survivors. We are builders of a future no war can erase."

Please join us in making Hend’s dream a reality. Your support is not just a donation; it’s a lifeline. Together, we can help her rebuild what war has tried to destroy.

With gratitude,

Intimaa AbuHelou