Go to update: 6/1/24

Hi! My name is Myron and I’m organizing this fundraiser for Raghada and her family. This is an amazing and loving family that I have grown close to over the past several months. They are a story of unity and the solidarity of love that helps them get to another day.

In the narrow, bustling streets of Gaza, life was a delicate balance between survival and hope. For Raghada Sami and her family, hope had become a scarce commodity. The conflict had forced them to flee their home 6 times, each displacement carving deeper scars into their hearts and minds.

Raghada's husband, Tamer Hassania, was a gentle man whose life had been dramatically altered five years ago when he received a kidney transplant. The surgery had saved him, but now he faced a new challenge: the need for a critical kidney biopsy to ensure his transplant was still functioning properly. Without it, his health could deteriorate rapidly, but the ongoing conflict made accessing such medical care a distant dream.

Their four children, Mina, Mohammed, Youmna, and Ali, once carefree and full of laughter, now wore the haunted expressions of those who had seen too much too soon.

Mina, the eldest at 21, a 4th year of computing science at Al Azhar university, tried to shoulder the burden of the family's troubles, while Mohammed, at 20, a football player, retreated into silence. Seventeen-year-old Youmna, who used to dream of becoming a professional dancer of Dabkeh, now feared she would never see a future beyond the conflict. Ali, the youngest at 15, who was dreaming of becoming a physics teacher, struggled to hold onto any semblance of normalcy.

The constant upheaval had stolen their childhood, replacing it with nightmares and an ever-present fear of the unknown. Raghada’s heart ached for her children. She knew that their psychological wounds ran deep and that they desperately needed mental health support, something that was nearly impossible to find in their war-torn homeland.

One evening, as the family huddled together in the dim light of their temporary shelter, Raghada felt a flicker of resolve ignite within her. She had to get her family to safety, to a place where Tamer could receive the medical attention he needed and where her children could begin to heal. She had heard whispers of the evacuation process to Egypt, where medical and psychological help awaited.

With determination that belied her weariness, Raghada reached out to every contact she could think of. She filled out endless forms with people from the other side of the world to help her with a GFM account for the evacuation fees, which cost her 28,500 USD. Her persistence paid off when her family was successfully registered on the evacuation list, scheduled to leave Gaza on May 12th.

However, hope turned to despair when the Rafah crossing closed till further notice. For 30 long days, Raghada and her family waited in limbo, clinging to false hope. Each day that passed felt like a lifetime, filled with uncertainty and fear.

Thank you for your time,

Raghada

To effectively allocate the $50,000 for living expenses in Gaza, considering Mina's father’s medical needs, and the family’s necessities like food, water, and shelter, here’s a potential breakdown:

1. Kidney Medications (Mina’s Father):

o Estimated monthly cost of medication: $1000.

o For 12 months: $1000 x 12 = $12,000.

2. Food:

o Monthly cost for a family of 6: $600.

o For 12 months: $600 x 12 = $7,200.

3. Water:

o Monthly cost for clean drinking water: $100.

o For 12 months: $100 x 12 = $1,200.

4. Shelter (Rent or Repair):

o Monthly rent or repairs: $500.

o For 12 months: $500 x 12 = $6000.

5. Electricity and Other Utilities:

o Monthly utility costs: $100.

o For 12 months: $100 x 12 = $1,200.

6. Emergency Fund:

o Set aside for unforeseen expenses, medical emergencies, or price fluctuations: $2,000.

7. Living Cost Buffer:

o Additional funds for inflation or unexpected costs: $10,000.

8. Long-Term Investments (e.g., Solar Panels, Water Purifier, Education if founded):

o For reducing long-term dependency on utility bills or creating more sustainable living: $5,000.

9. Miscellaneous Expenses:

o Clothing, transportation, small purchases: $5,400

Total: $50,000

From The beneficiary: My name is Myron and I currently reside in Sugar Land, Texas. There are six members of the Hassania family I am helping: Raghada, Tamer, Mena, Mohammed, Youmna and Ali. The money is being used to help them with food, basic necessities, Tamer’s kidney medication and now for his recent thyroid cancer diagnosis. The money is wired to a family member who is able to wire it to their bank. Proofs and receipts are available upon request.