“Our Dreams Aren’t Dead—Help Us Leave and Start Over”

My name is Israa. I’m a doctor, and I’m a mother to a 2.5-year-old girl named Maryam.

Not long ago, we had a home. I had a job. I had built a life through years of hard work and education.

Then the war came — and in one moment, everything disappeared.

Our house was completely destroyed. So were the homes of my entire family.

We lost everything: shelter, safety, stability. We had to flee under fire, carrying nothing with us.

Now, we are displaced. I’m paying rent I can’t afford.

We move often because of the cost. There is no routine, no furniture, no certainty. Just survival.

Maryam is too young to understand what happened, but her body is feeling it — her hair is falling out.

There are days I can’t even provide her a proper meal. And I’m a doctor.

This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write.

I was trained to help others. But today, I’m asking for help — for me, and for my daughter.

If you can support us — even with something small — it would help us find a sense of life again.

A bed. A safe place. A future.

Thank you for reading.

Thank you for not turning away.

✨ Update: Why We Need This Amount

Many people have asked why the goal is €7,500–€10,000.

The truth is: this amount isn’t for comfort — it’s for survival.

Just leaving Gaza legally — without a visa — can cost up to $10,000 per person.

That includes evacuation coordination, transport, and border fees.

We haven’t even reached safety yet — we’re just trying to get there.

Once outside, we’ll still need:

• Temporary housing

• Food and basic supplies

• Medical care for my 2.5-year-old daughter Maryam, who is already showing signs of trauma and malnutrition

We’re starting from absolute zero. No furniture, no bed, no clothing, no income.

This is why your support means everything.

Thank you to each person who donated, shared, or simply sent a kind word — your compassion is helping us hold on.

With love,

Israa