Help reunite cancer hero dad with family from Gaza

Hello, I’m Hisham Abu Aqlain, a former physical therapist, a 57-year-old cancer patient, and the father of four brilliant children. I’m here writing to you from Turkey after I managed to escape the devastating war in Gaza to seek urgent treatment. But my heart crushes every single day knowing that my children are still stuck in gaza. I am alone, fighting lung cancer and kidney dialysis without my children by my side. And now, a new brain tumor is threatening my life while my time slips through my fingers like a grain of sand. I dream every night of my family reuniting again, far from the horrific war, but these dreams will not come true without your help. Since the path to escape Gaza is barred by a formidable barrier—between 5,000 to 8,000 US dollars per person—this is a huge cost for me or for my children to bear. I urge you to help me spend the rest of my life with my beloved kids and rebuild our future together once again. 

Among the rubble of our home, my ambitious children were on the verge of a bright future. They were all on the path of success in their own different ways. One of them was starting a family; another just started his career; the youngest one just got enrolled in a medical school; and my only daughter got accepted into an American college scholarship before it all went down. My children are now seeking refuge in a flimsy tent, where the biting cold serves as a constant reminder of our dire circumstances. I worked my whole life tirelessly to build our family home, adding the final touches, only for it to be burned, destroyed, and targeted. There is no shelter for them now.

Issam, my oldest son, who is a product designer, software Software Engineer, and freelance trainer, used to empower youth and worked hard to enhance their lives. Eman, his wife, NGOs Project Coordination Specialist, alongside Issam, faced unimaginable losses. They were stripped of their jobs and the home they invested their life worth in. Not to mention that Eman lost her oldest sister and her three nephews in a brutal airstrike, yet they’re still yearning for a chance to rebuild their lives. Which is why they're seeking refuge abroad, where they can start anew in a land untouched by conflict and contribute to our family's reunion. 

Tareq, My second son, who is a software engineer, just graduated from college, and he didn’t spare any effort to develop his skills to build his career as a back-end developer. Until the war turned his life around and made it all about survival instead of focusing on improving his skills to have a successful career. 

Omar, my youngest son, stands out as a resilient figure whose unafraid will to pursue a medical degree and support me is a testament to the power of hope. With a remarkable score of 99.1% (A+), he secured a place at a medical university.  But it has been totally destroyed, and now he wants to pursue his studies abroad before it’s too late.

Rasha, my only girl, has dreams of pursuing her studies in English literature, but I have seen her hard dedication shattered as her chance of fulfilling the exchange scholarship she earned in the US went in vein and as her university in Gaza was destroyed to the ground.

As a father, I gain strength and hope from the presence of my own kids next to me, but I cannot even contact them due to the constant cut of connections and internet, let alone be next to them. The thought of my children losing their lives without me by their side haunts me every night, and the worry consumes my soul. And I know for sure that it’s haunting them as well, thinking about me. We are all in desperate need of our reunion.

Your generous contribution will not only facilitate their escape from Gaza but will also provide us with the means to establish a new life abroad, where we can rebuild our lives and nurture their dreams. Each donation brings us closer to reuniting our family and bringing warmth to our hearts. Fighting this new tumor would be a lot more possible with my kids by my side. I’ll keep going with their love, support, and presence.

Thank you for your support,

with gratitude,

Hisham

Together, let's bring hope back to a family torn apart and support a Cancer hero on his ongoing journey of battling Cancer.