Hello! We are American and European friends of Reem Walid, a Palestinian nurse trapped in Gaza with her young family consisting of her husband and two small children.

Two months ago, we successfully raised $1900 USD so that Reem could seek medical treatment and a proper tent that protected the family against humidity and pollution. This is because Reem was so disabled by an infected ulcer on her leg due to the unsanitary living conditions that many people in Gaza face. It was so bad that she couldn’t even run after her children, Cecelia, 4, and Farid, 2.

With the $1900 we raised, Reem was able to see a doctor, get her ulcer treated, and is in recovery, not in a tent, but an actual house that she can temporarily call home. The money raised was helpful beyond her and our wildest dreams. But with the end of the month coming closer, Reem needs more help.

If we can raise $1250, we can ensure that Reem can continue to heal. $200 will go towards medical supplies, and $900 will go towards ensuring her and her family will have a safe place to live while Reem continues to recover. Sadly some must go to financial conversion fees. Additionally, we are asking for a small donation for food and daily necessities for the family.

Reem is unlike most cases. Because of the severity of her ulcers, it is not safe nor advisable for her to be living in tents, despite the fact that this is the reality for most Gazans right now. If she returns to a tent, it is likely that her ulcer will regress and become worse and possibly spread.

But her condition has already improved so much, that if we can give her housing long enough to help her ulcer heal, i.e. one more month, we would be helping the Reem family incalculably. There is a saying, “the wife is the foundation of the home.” It could not be more true in Reem’s case. Would you be willing to donate to ensure this family has a roof over their heads next month?

Before the war, Reem lived a stable life. She was a working nurse in Gaza and her husband studied Health Administration. But on October 7, 2023, their lives were upended and soon thereafter, their house was destroyed by bombs. Reem and her family became peripatetic, living in temporary tents made of old tarps and rugs that allowed freezing rainwater to seep in during the winter, while the summer was sweltering, and invited pests.

Last year, her foot developed an infected ulcer due to the unsanitary conditions of the sewage seeping through the tent. The ulcer spread to almost the width of her leg. It spread to her fingers and the rest of her leg. The original ulcer never fully healed, even with antibiotics, due to the constant humidity, poor nutrition, and lack of healthy food. Reem suffered physical from pain all night, on top of the chronic fear of death and displacement. But with our recent donation, Reem and her children are doing much better.

She told us after our recent donation:

“I went to a private doctor, and he ran some tests. He said I might be suffering from poison caused by disease, pollution, and the infection-laden environment around me. The doctor performed surgery on the wound to clean it and advised me to move to a clean and healthy place [which I did not have; our tent is on the ground without a roof or proper floor]. The doctor told me that we should rent a house so that the treatment process would be safe and quick, because I needed a clean place that was not exposed to heat, insects, rodents, or humidity.”

This is why they decided to rent a tiny home last month, which is SO MUCH BETTER THAN A TENT for her medical condition. But Reem and her family need at least one more month of rent to complete the healing and guarantee the infection is cured. (Two would be ideal and would cost $650 if anyone would like to donate specifically towards her housing).

In the long run, your donation will help ensure the continued success of Reem and her family. It will help her with rent and medication to ensure that she does not become permanently lame due to the infected leg she is still recovering from, which may lead to necrosis, possible amputation, or worse if it does not stay dry and protected

“This GoFundMe campaign will help me battle this illness and be able to care for my four-year-old daughter. My two-year-old son is asking to be protected from the trauma of war and needs to be held. He's a small child. He always wants his mom. But it hurts to hold them, my leg is still recovering”

“We do not know what the future will bring, but we hope nobody anywhere on Earth has to suffer the way we are now” she told us.

Thank you sincerely for helping this mother escape disability or death. Funds raised will be transferred to Reem via Blaise Krummenacher, our mutual friend. Whether you support Palestine, Israel, or simply do not follow politics, please remember that Reem Walid is an ordinary person, like you and me, who has gone through extremely difficult times. Humanitarianism should have no bounds. We welcome any questions you may have. Please let us know if you have any questions. And thank you from the bottom of our hearts.