Syrian Refugee Family Needs Our Love & Support

Leader of Syrian Refugee Family Needs Our Love & Support

In 2012, Husni Alareed led his family on foot to escape from the bombs falling on his hometown Azaz, Syria on the outskirts of Aleppo. He led his family on foot more than 30km to the border of Syria to join the tens of thousands of displaced Syrians in the refugee camps of Turkey. With five children under the age of 12, he was forced to leave his job as a chef and guide his family to safety.

Among his kids was his eldest son, Mohamed, who had been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, but was unable to receive any treatment due to the collapse of the Syrian health care system. Once inside Turkey, Husni would take his son for chemo treatments by riding on a bus nearly 12 hours one way. Inside the refugee camp, they were fortunate to meet the graceful souls of Médecins Sans Frontières - Doctors without Borders. Through their great work, they were able to get their family expedited approval to immigrate to the U.S., where Mohamed would receive treatment for his cancer.

The family flew for the first time from Turkey to Europe to Chicago and eventually ended in Atlanta, where they made their home in Clarkston, GA, which is widely known in the South as "the most diverse square mile in America." The family thrived in their new apartment, learned English, obtained driver's licenses, bought a car, and settled into new jobs in construction and transportation. This all while continuing to treat their son Mohamed at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Our family had the good fortune of getting to know the Alareed Family through the amazing work of The Global Village Project in Decatur, GA - the nation's only middle school fully dedicated to the education of refugee girls. The Alareeds two oldest girls in the U.S., Bayan and Suzan, became our mentees through GVP where we helped them navigate their new country, new school, and new lives. Both girls graduated from GVP and moved onto high school, jobs, and now marriage. In 2023, Bayan became a mother to a beautiful baby boy who is loved and cherished by their family (and ours).

Our first engagement with the Alareeds for a birthday celebration they hosted for our family in October 2018. With very little resources, the Alareeds opened their home to us for the most amazing meal - a classic Muslim tradition of giving and celebration to share their love and appreciation for our mentorship of their daughters. We've still never seen a tray of fruit as large as the one they served us at the end of an amazing home cooked meal. And this, from a family that came to the U.S. a year earlier with just the clothes on their backs.

Sadly, after his long battle with lymphoma, their son Mohamed passed away in October 2019. Husni continued to provide support and stability for their family after his passing, through Covid and beyond. He became a U.S. Citizen in 2023 and has continued to hold multiple jobs, pay taxes, learn English, and make America great.

In December of 2023, the family was dealt another blow. Husni was diagnosed with a congestive heart and lung disease. He is a fighter and working hard, but this setback was an unexpected blow to a family that has already suffered far too much. Husni is now home, unable to work, receiving medical care, but is in a fight for his life. As a result, the family needs our help.

This is a long story, but a simple request. The Alareeds are amazing people who have been through unimaginable tragedy from losing their home and history in Syria, to immigrating to a foreign land, to the loss of their son, and now to Husni's medical condition. Throughout it all, they have contributed to society, paid taxes, educated their children, learned English, held stable jobs, and found ways to embrace their community in the U.S. They certainly have been an amazing part of our family's journey the last six years.

Please consider a donation that will be used to support this family's basic needs of food, shelter, and living expenses as Husni fights to get healthy and support his family once again. Thank you, in advance, from the bottom of our hearts.

With love,

The Eiler Family of Atlanta